Airbus A319 and A320 - Service Difficulty Alert

AL 2001-01
25 January 2001

Wing Rear Spar Wiring Chafed

A Service Difficulty Report (SDR) identified a short circuit on an Airbus A320 aircraft operated in Canada.

Following an Electronic Central Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) message indicating a strobe light failure, investigation revealed a significant wiring failure. Several wires had chafed and shorted on their respective aluminum raceway in the vicinity of the wing rear spar outboard of the pylon (STA 5512 to STA 6132). It has been determined that damage to these wires could have resulted in multiple faults in several systems. 

Transport Canada strongly recommends that, at their earliest convenience, operators of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft inspect the wiring routed along the wing rear spar for indication of interference with the edges of the aluminum raceways which could lead to a short circuit.

This issue remains under investigation by Transport Canada, the operator and Airbus Industry.

Any defects or further occurrences should be reported by sending a Service Difficulty Report to Transport Canada, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa.

For further information, contact a Transport Canada Centre, or Mr. Paul Jones, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, telephone (613) 952-4431, facsimile (613) 996-9178 or e-mail jonesp@tc.gc.ca.

For Director, National Aircraft Certification

B. Goyaniuk
Chief, Continuing Airworthiness