EASA AD 2019-0098
Fuselage — Forward Emergency Exit Door Doubler — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2019-0098 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection of the forward emergency exit door doublers on Airbus A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, A321-231, and A321-232 aeroplanes. It requires a one-time detailed inspection of the internal upper doublers on both left-hand and right-hand sides of the forward emergency exit doors to detect any drill-start defects. The directive applies to specific manufacturer serial numbers listed in the document.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a mandatory inspection to identify potential drill-start defects caused by erroneous positioning during manufacturing. It requires operators to perform a detailed inspection and, if necessary, a high-frequency eddy current inspection with corrective actions before further flight. The directive also mandates reporting inspection results to Airbus within 90 days.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the fuselage by preventing fatigue issues caused by unwanted drill-starts on the emergency exit door doublers. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of affected Airbus A321 aircraft. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must address these inspections to avoid potential safety risks and regulatory non-compliance.
What To Do
Operators of affected Airbus A321 aircraft must perform a detailed inspection of the forward emergency exit door doublers before exceeding 17,000 flight cycles since the aircraft's first flight. If any drill-start defects 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 unless already reported during corrective action.
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