Fuselage — Belly Fairing and Keel Beam Side Panel Attachment Angles — Inspection / Replacement / Repair
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2013-0122
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must reinforce the belly fairing structure for certain A320 models before 12,000 flight cycles if not already done, and perform repetitive detailed inspections of the titanium angles at intervals not exceeding 5,000 flight cycles or 10,000 flight hours. If cracks are found, affected parts must be removed, inspected, and replaced or repaired following Airbus SB A320-53-1259 Revision 03. Additional work is required within 2,000 flight cycles or 4,000 flight hours for aircraft previously inspected under Revision 02 of the service bulletin.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0091 is an airworthiness directive affecting Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It addresses inspection, replacement, and repair requirements for the belly fairing and keel beam side panel attachment titanium angles to ensure structural integrity. The directive mandates repetitive detailed inspections and corrective actions to detect and fix cracks in these components.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0091 supersedes the previous AD 2013-0122 and introduces additional work requirements for aircraft that had inspections performed under Airbus Service Bulletin A320-53-1259 Revision 02. It updates inspection procedures to use the correct rivet part number and requires compliance with the latest revision of the service bulletin (Rev. 03).
Why it matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural safety of affected Airbus A320 family aircraft by preventing potential failures in the belly fairing attachment angles. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure inspections and repairs are performed as specified to avoid structural integrity issues that could compromise flight safety. Adhering to this AD helps avoid unplanned maintenance and potential grounding of aircraft.
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