Fire Protection — Pipe Connections — Re-torque

Published: Apr 3, 2019
Effective: Apr 17, 2019
Deadline: Apr 17, 2021

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Operators must re-torque all affected pipe connections to the specified correct torque values within 24 months after the aircraft's date of manufacture or within 3 months after the directive's effective date, whichever is later. The re-torqueing must be performed following the instructions in Airbus Service Bulletin A320-26-1113 or A320-26-1114. Compliance with this directive is mandatory unless previously accomplished.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2019-0081 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A320-251N, A320-271N, A321-251N, A321-253N, A321-271N, and A321-272N aeroplanes. The directive addresses fire protection pipe connections in the pylon area that may have been under-torqued during final assembly. It mandates re-torqueing these connections to ensure proper safety margins in case of engine fire.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive requires operators to re-torque specific pipe connections related to fire protection systems on certain Airbus A320 and A321 models. The directive introduces specific torque values and compliance timelines to correct under-torqued connections identified during a calibration check of torqueing tools used in assembly.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for maintaining the integrity of fire extinguishing and sense lines in the pylon area, which if left under-torqued, could lead to leaks or disconnections. Ensuring correct torque values reduces the risk of engine control issues or compromised fire safety, directly impacting aircraft safety and regulatory compliance for operators and maintenance organizations.

More for Airbus A320

All 286

Get the next one by email

New ADs and bulletins for Airbus A320 and A321, summarized like this page, every Monday.