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FLIGHT OPERATIONS TRANSMISSION - FOT
TO: All A320-200N, A321-200N Operators
SUBJECT: ATA 36 – A320NEO FAMILY - LOSS OF BLEED AIR LEAK DETECTION CAPABILITY
OUR REF.: 999.0055/22 Rev 00 dated 04-AUG-2022
CLASSIFICATION: Airworthiness or Safety
APPLICABLE AIRCRAFT: This FOT is applicable to A320neo and A321neo aircraft without MOD
161978 (MP G1180) or without MOD 161979 (MP G1174) installed
Notice: This FOT provides information about a significant operational issue that is
related to airworthiness or safety. It is each Operator’s responsibility to distribute this
FOT or to distribute the information contained in this FOT, to all of their applicable
flight crews without delay. Failure to apply this FOT may have a significant impact on
safe aircraft operations.
References:
REF[1] AOT A36N008-22 ATA 36 - OHDS grounding issue - Loss of Bleed Air Leak Detection
Capability
REF[2] TFU 36.22.00052 - A320FAM neo - OHDS grounding issue - Loss of Bleed Air Leak Detection
Capability
REF[3] SB A320-36-1088 - BMC PIN AA 6E GROUNDING ISSUE A320NEO (expected end Sep
2022).
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this FOT is to inform A320neo/A321neo Operators that, for aircraft not delivered with
MP G1180/MOD 161978, or the MP G1174/MOD 161979, the red Operational Engineering Bulletin
(OEB) No. 60, and the associated AFM TR 790 “No Bleed Leak Detection” are published.
This OEB and AFM TR provide the operational procedure to apply in the case of an AIR ENG 1(2)
ABNORM PR, or AIR ENG 1+2 BLEED FAULT ECAM alert.
In addition, the following Flight Operations manuals are also updated, for the affected aircraft:
MMEL: the MMEL Items 36-11-01 Engine Bleed Air Supply System (all dispatch conditions)
and 30-11-01 Wing Anti-Ice Control Valve (inoperative in the open position)
FCOM/QRH: the System Reset Table associated with the bleed system is updated.
This FOT is associated with the AOT A36N008-22 (Ref [1]). This AOT provides a complete list of
affected aircraft.
FOT ref: 999.0055/22 Rev 00 Page 1 of 4 Date: 04-AUG-2022
© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
FLIGHT OPERATIONS TRANSMISSION - FOT
2. EVENT DESCRIPTION
During some checks of the OHDS (Overheat Detection System) on an A320neo flight test aircraft,
some connection problems were found on all OHDS detection loops of the aircraft.
As a consequence, there is a possible loss of the bleed air leak detection system. This connection
problem only affects A320neo and A321neo aircraft that are not fitted with the gold plated connectors’
technology from production (aircraft not equipped with MP G1180/MOD 161978 or the MP
G1174/MOD 161979).
For further information regarding the technical context of the problem, refer to TFU 36.22.00052 (Ref
[2]).
3. OPERATIONAL CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATIONS
3.1 Operational Consequences
If the bleed air leak detection system is not available, the associated ECAM alerts will not trigger.
Therefore, the corresponding procedures that enable the isolation of the bleed air leak will not be
applied.
3.2 Operational Mitigations
To mitigate the most critical cases of bleed air leaks that are not detected, the following alternative
detection methods are available for the affected aircraft:
AIR ENG 1(2) BLEED ABNORM PR
AIR ENG 1+2 BLEED FAULT (with no subtitle).
These alternative means enable the mitigation of the loss of the following ECAM alerts:
AIR ENG 1(2) BLEED LEAK
AIR L(R) WING LEAK
AIR ENG 1+2 BLEED FAULT - LEFT LEAK (RIGHT LEAK) (LEFT LEAK and RIGHT LEAK).
Even if the leak detection system is not available, the system is able to detect an abnormal bleed
pressure, in the case of a significant bleed air leak. This will trigger the associated ECAM alerts (AIR
ENG 1(2) BLEED ABNORM PR or AIR ENG 1+2 BLEED FAULT), so that they can be used as an
entry point for the application of the isolation procedure for bleed air leaks.
4. AIRBUS ACTIONS
The final fix for the loop connection issue is achieved via a maintenance procedure provided in the
AOT A36N008-22 (Ref [1]) or the SB A320-36-1088 (Ref [3]).
Until the final fix is applied by the Operators, the following temporary actions to mitigate the
consequences of the loss of the bleed air leak detection system are required:
4.1 Red OEB 60 and Associated AFM TR 790
Based on the alternative detection methods, detailed in Section 3.2, a red OEB 60 is published, as a
mitigation for the most critical leak scenarios.
FOT ref: 999.0055/22 Rev 00 Page 2 of 4 Date: 04-AUG-2022
© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
FLIGHT OPERATIONS TRANSMISSION - FOT
The OEB 60 contains the procedure required to isolate a possible bleed air leak, and it must be
applied each time the AIR ENG 1(2) ABNORM PR or the AIR ENG 1+2 BLEED FAULT ECAM alerts
are triggered.
The main actions required to isolate the leak are to turn off the bleed source(s) of the affected side(s),
and to close the crossbleed valve. In addition, the bleed reset is not permitted, to ensure the isolation
of the leak.
Together with the red OEB 60, the AFM Temporary Revision (TR) 790 is published to include a
temporary update of the abnormal procedures for the AIR ENG 1(2) ABNORM PR and AIR ENG 1+2
BLEED FAULT ECAM alerts.
4.2 MMEL Update
The MMEL Items affected by the loss of the bleed air leak detection system or by the application of
the OEB 60 are updated. The objective of the following modifications is to ensure that a dispatch
under MMEL does not degrade the condition of the affected aircraft.
MMEL Item 36-11-01 Engine Bleed Air Supply System:
Dispatch with one bleed inoperative is permitted following an AIR ENG 1(2) BLEED ABNORM
PR ECAM alert. However, as this alert is used as an alternative method of detection of bleed
air leaks, for the affected aircraft, the existing MMEL Item 36-11-01 may result in a dispatch
with a bleed air leak. To avoid this, dispatch under MMEL Item 36-11-01 is only authorized
after confirmation that there is no bleed air leak.
To do this, a new proviso is added. This proviso requires the confirmation that there is no
bleed air leak, via a new (m) procedure. For further information regarding the new (m)
procedure, refer to TFU 36.22.00052 (Ref [2]). In addition, the existing (o) procedures are
updated to be aligned with the OEB 60.
MMEL Item 30-11-01 Wing Anti-Ice Control Valve:
In the case of a leak in the outer wing that is not detected, the exposure time is limited to the
use time of the Wing Anti-Ice (WAI) when the control valve of the wing anti-ice is operative.
However, if the WAI is inoperative open, as per MMEL Item 30-11-01A, this exposure time is
not limited.
For that reason, the dispatch condition 30-11-01A becomes NO-GO.
4.3 FCOM/QRH Update
The bleed reset following an AIR ENG 1(2) BLEED ABNORM PR ECAM alert is not permitted, as
requested in the OEB 60. Therefore, the System Reset Table in the FCOM and QRH are updated, in
accordance with this restriction.
5. FOLLOW-UP PLAN
The OEB 60, MMEL and FCOM/QRH update will be released to Operators with an unplanned major
event revision. In addition, the associated AFM TR 790 was approved by the authorities, and will be
released in the planned AFM revision of August 3, 2022.
An advance copy of the operational documents are attached to this transmission.
The OEB 60 and the associated AFM TR 790, in addition to the impact on the MMEL and the
FCOM/QRH, will be canceled by:
FOT ref: 999.0055/22 Rev 00 Page 3 of 4 Date: 04-AUG-2022
© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
FLIGHT OPERATIONS TRANSMISSION - FOT
The application of the maintenance procedure, detailed in AOT A36N008-22 (Ref [1]), or
The embodiment of the SB A320-36-1088 (Ref [3]), when available (expected for end of
September 2022).
For more information about the removal of this temporary mitigation, refer to TFU 36.22.00052 (Ref
[2]).
For additional details, Airbus will invite Operators to connect to the dedicated webinars that will occur
on September 1, 2022. Connection details will be provided in a new revision of this FOT.
For any questions about the operational content of this FOT, please use TechRequest on
AirbusWorld.
Best regards,
Capt. Yann LARDET
Vice President, Flight Operations Support & Training Standards
FOT ref: 999.0055/22 Rev 00 Page 4 of 4 Date: 04-AUG-2022
© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
