EASA AD 2018-0129
Equipment / Furnishings — Escape Slide / Slide Raft Safety Pin — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0129 is a regulatory document addressing the inspection of escape slide and slide raft safety pins on Airbus A319 and A320 aeroplanes. It applies specifically to certain Airbus A319-115, A319-132, A319-133, and A320 variants including A320-214, A320-216, A320-232, A320-233, A320-251N, and A320-271N with manufacturer serial numbers listed in the Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A25N012-17 Revision 02. The directive mandates inspection and potential removal of safety pins that may prevent proper deployment of escape slides or slide rafts in emergencies.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0129 introduces a one-time inspection requirement for escape slide and slide raft safety pins on affected Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. It addresses a previously unidentified issue where safety pins may not have been removed during production, potentially blocking emergency slide deployment. The directive also provides instructions for corrective action if safety pins are found installed.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because failure to detect and remove installed safety pins could prevent escape slides or slide rafts from deploying during an emergency, posing a serious safety risk to occupants. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety. The directive also clarifies acceptable compliance methods and provides contact points for technical support.
What To Do
Operators of affected Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft must inspect each escape slide and slide raft within 750 flight hours, 750 flight cycles, or 4 months from the effective date of 29 June 2018, whichever occurs first. If safety pins are found installed, they must be removed and stored before the next flight. Inspections and corrective actions performed before the effective date in accordance with earlier versions of the Airbus AOT are acceptable for compliance.
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