Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD 2020-0193

Landing Gear — Main Landing Gear Sliding Tubes — Inspection / Replacement

Published: Sep 7, 2020
Effective: Sep 21, 2020
Deadline: Sep 21, 2020

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

What to do

Operators of affected Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft must perform a general visual inspection of all affected main landing gear sliding tubes within 100 flight cycles after 21 September 2020. If cracks are detected, the affected parts must be replaced before the next flight. Inspection results, including no findings, must be reported to Airbus within 15 days after inspection. Only serviceable sliding tubes as defined in the directive may be installed from the effective date onward.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0193 is an airworthiness directive addressing inspection and replacement of main landing gear sliding tubes on Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It applies to specific part numbers of the main landing gear sliding tubes that have exceeded 4 years or 5,000 flight cycles since last overhaul or repair. The directive mandates a one-time general visual inspection and, if cracks are found, replacement of the affected parts to ensure continued airworthiness.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces a mandatory inspection regime for main landing gear sliding tubes on certain Airbus A320 family aircraft. It requires operators to perform a one-time general visual inspection within 100 flight cycles of the effective date and to replace any sliding tubes found with cracks before further flight. Additionally, it requires reporting inspection results to Airbus and allows installation of serviceable sliding tubes with specified part numbers.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a potential unsafe condition that could lead to main landing gear collapse, risking aircraft damage and occupant injury. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to ensure the structural integrity of landing gear components and maintain regulatory compliance. The inspection and reporting requirements also help Airbus and regulators monitor the condition of these parts and prevent future occurrences.

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