EASA AD 2020-0071
Fuselage — Rear Cone Diagonal Struts — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0071 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency concerning Airbus A350-941 aeroplanes with specific manufacturer serial numbers. It mandates inspection of the fuselage rear cone diagonal struts located at frame 102 in section 19 to ensure proper locking of the diagonal struts. The directive aims to prevent potential structural integrity issues that could affect the horizontal tail plane attachments or rear cone joints.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a one-time detailed inspection requirement for the lock washers of the rear cone diagonal struts on affected Airbus A350-941 aircraft. It requires corrective actions if any improperly installed parts or incorrectly engaged lock washer teeth are found. Additionally, operators must report inspection results to Airbus within 30 days.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as improperly locked diagonal struts can compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft, potentially leading to control loss. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft safety and airworthiness. Failure to comply could result in unsafe flight conditions and regulatory penalties.
What To Do
Operators of affected Airbus A350-941 aeroplanes must perform a detailed inspection of the fuselage rear cone diagonal strut lock washers before exceeding 7,200 flight cycles since the aircraft's date of manufacture. If any discrepancies are found, corrective actions must be completed before the next flight. Inspection results, including no findings, must be reported to Airbus within 30 days of inspection.
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