Fuselage — Seat Track Extremities — Inspection / Repair
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Airbus A350-941 and A350-1041 aeroplanes must perform a detailed inspection of the specified seat track extremities within the compliance times defined: within 2 months for seat studs in loaded areas and before 6 years from the aircraft's date of manufacture for unloaded areas. If deficiencies are found, corrective actions must be completed before exceeding thresholds specified in the Airbus Service Bulletin A350-53-P061. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory to continue operation.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0166 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A350-941 and A350-1041 aeroplanes. It mandates inspection and potential repair of seat track extremities located between specific fuselage frames to address a structural deficiency. The directive applies to aircraft identified by manufacturer serial numbers as specified in Airbus Service Bulletin A350-53-P061.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces a one-time detailed inspection of seat track extremities between fuselage frames 40 and 41 and frames 71 and 72 on affected Airbus A350 models. It requires corrective actions if any deficiencies are found during inspection, addressing insufficient protection treatment identified during manufacturing. The directive does not supersede any previous ADs.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a potential structural weakness that could lead to seat or monument detachment during an emergency landing, posing safety risks to occupants and complicating evacuation. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety. Failure to comply could result in regulatory penalties and increased safety hazards.
More for Airbus A350
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