EASA AD 2018-0269: Wings — Center Wing Ribs — Inspection / Modification

What to do

Operators of affected Vulcanair AP68TP-300 and AP68TP-600 aeroplanes must inspect the center wing ribs #3 and #4 on both sides within 3 months or 50 flight hours from 2018-12-25, whichever occurs first. If cracks or corrosion are found, repairs must be performed before the next flight following Vulcanair's approved instructions. If no damage is found but reinforcements are missing, these must be installed within the same compliance timeframe.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0269 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Vulcanair P.68 series aeroplanes, specifically the AP68TP-300 "Spartacus" and AP68TP-600 "Viator" models with certain serial numbers. The directive addresses inspection and modification requirements for the center wing ribs, specifically ribs #3 and #4 on both left and right wings, to ensure structural integrity.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory one-time inspections of the center wing ribs on specified Vulcanair P.68 aircraft to detect cracks or corrosion. Depending on inspection results, operators must either apply a repair or install reinforcements as detailed in Vulcanair Service Bulletin TP-43. It also formalizes the use of repair instructions developed by the manufacturer to address a previously identified structural issue.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for maintaining the structural safety of affected Vulcanair P.68 aircraft by preventing potential wing failures caused by undetected cracks or corrosion. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely inspections and modifications to avoid grounding or unsafe flight conditions. Adhering to this AD helps maintain regulatory compliance and aircraft airworthiness.