Landing Gear — Nose Landing Gear Components — Replacement [Life Limit]
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aircraft must identify affected nose landing gear main fittings and sliding tubes by their part and serial numbers. These parts must be replaced before exceeding the reduced life limits of 9,000 flight cycles for main fittings and 14,000 flight cycles for sliding tubes. Installation of affected parts is only allowed if they have not exceeded these limits, and replacement must follow as required by the directive. Compliance must be achieved by the effective date of 28 December 2017.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2017-0249 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency concerning the Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes. It addresses the replacement of certain nose landing gear (NLG) components, specifically main fittings and sliding tubes, due to a manufacturing issue involving improper preparation of 300M material. The directive sets reduced life limits for these affected parts to prevent potential structural failure and nose landing gear collapse.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2017-0249 introduces reduced fatigue life limits for specific batches of Airbus A380 nose landing gear main fittings (P/N 50-2004262-01) and sliding tubes (P/N 50-2004248-00) identified by serial numbers. It requires operators to replace these affected parts before exceeding the new reduced life limits of 9,000 flight cycles for main fittings and 14,000 flight cycles for sliding tubes. The directive also permits installation of affected parts only if they have not exceeded these reduced life limits and mandates their subsequent replacement accordingly.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a potential unsafe condition that could lead to nose landing gear structural failure and collapse, risking loss of aircraft control during takeoff or landing. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and safety. Compliance teams need to track affected parts and their life cycles carefully to avoid operating aircraft with parts beyond the reduced life limits.
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