Wings — Rib 5 to Rear Spar Attachment — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Airbus A321 models must perform a special detailed inspection of the rib 5-to-rear spar attachments on both wings within 30 months of 11 May 2018. If any cracked or failed bolts are found, corrective actions must be completed before the next flight. Additionally, inspection results must be reported to Airbus within 90 days after the inspection. Actions completed before the effective date in accordance with the original service bulletin are acceptable for compliance.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0102 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A321 aeroplanes, specifically models A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, A321-231, and A321-232. The directive mandates inspection of the wing rib 5 to rear spar attachments on both left and right wings to ensure structural integrity. It addresses a potential manufacturing defect involving fastener failures that could compromise wing safety.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0102 introduces a one-time special detailed inspection of the rib 5-to-rear spar attachments on affected Airbus A321 aircraft delivered before a specific production process change. It requires corrective actions if any cracked or failed bolts are found and mandates reporting inspection results to Airbus. This directive is a new regulation responding to identified fastener failures and does not supersede any previous directives.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because undetected fastener failures in the wing structure could reduce the wing's structural integrity, posing a safety risk. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to ensure continued airworthiness and avoid potential in-flight structural issues. Compliance also ensures adherence to European regulatory requirements and avoids operational restrictions.
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