Another Airbus rudder problem??

A_lexander · Post by **A_lexander** » 25 Mar 2006, 10:26

Yeah I think it's maintaines to! Not Airbus.

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 25 Mar 2006, 17:05

No it actually appears to be Airbus using an adhesive for the rudder which is dissolved by the hydraulics fluid. Yes I'm probably oversimplifying here, but it appears that the skin of the rudder disbonded from the internal honeycomb structure due to contact with the hydraulics fluid. Isn't that like using a water-based glue for the tiles in your bathroom?

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 27 Mar 2006, 06:46

FAA and CTSB will both issue urgent AD's Monday in regards to Rudder failures.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... OE=NEWISVA

gwillie · Post by **gwillie** » 27 Mar 2006, 18:42

http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/release ... For=586181

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/media/communiqu ... 060327.asp

gwillie · Post by **gwillie** » 30 Mar 2006, 02:45

The word is that, tomorrow the FAA will issue an AD applicable to some 400 Airbus aircraft equipped with the pre-modification rudder in question.

Word is also that it won't be anywhere so strong as the NTSB's or the Canadian TSB's recommendations.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/bus ... 38,00.html

It will be very interesting to see whether the Canadian TSB and the European Aviation Safety Agency will make similar demands...and, whether the timeframes are closer/identical to those of the NTSB/TSB.

Here's an article that (sort of/kind of) touches on this "pre-mod" rudder business.....however, it still leaves me somewhat in the dark. This rudder was the first "version" used on these planes and, after about 400 were produced, a modification was made. Surprise, surprise, there have been no similar rudder problems with the post-modification rudders (so far, at least). About halfway through the article, look for "these so-called premodification rudders, which are those configured with the skin panels attached to the front spar" and, in the last paragraph "Airbus redesigned the rudder skin panels and front spar interfaces". However, I'm still left wondering the pre/post differences.

The article:
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/20 ... irbus.html

Knight255 · Post by **Knight255** » 30 Mar 2006, 04:13

There's no possibility in finding a different hydraulic fluid that will prevent such corrosion?? I honestly don't know which would be easier, replacing the fluid, or inspecting each rudder.

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 31 Mar 2006, 01:02

The FAA has issued its Air Worthiness Directive:

http://content.atp.com/ADs/pdf/060713.pdf

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 18 Apr 2006, 03:01

American Airlines pilots are calling for a reopening of the Investigation into flight 587 in Rockaways New York. They feel the Pilot was wrongly blamed in the accident, citing recent rudder failures common with the series of Airbus Aircraft.

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/62570.htm