EASA AD 2021-0001
SUPERSEDED BY EASA AD 2021-0034
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0001 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A380-841 and A380-842 aeroplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 900 engines. The directive mandates inspections of the front engine mount, strut mount, and thrust link due to concerns about salvage welds on the compressor intermediate case lugs in certain engines. It aims to ensure continued airworthiness by requiring repetitive inspections and corrective actions to prevent potential engine detachment in flight.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0001 introduces mandatory repetitive inspections at reduced intervals for affected Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 900 engines installed on Airbus A380 aircraft. It requires removal from service of any engine showing discrepancies during inspections and allows installation of affected engines on aircraft provided inspections are performed post-installation. This AD does not supersede any previous directives but establishes new inspection requirements.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a potential unsafe condition that could lead to engine detachment in flight, posing serious safety risks. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply with the inspection intervals to detect structural issues early and maintain aircraft control and safety. Compliance ensures regulatory adherence and helps prevent costly in-service failures or accidents.
What To Do
Operators of Airbus A380-841 and A380-842 aircraft with affected Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 900 engines must perform initial and repetitive inspections of the front engine mount and strut mount according to Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A71R017-20. Inspections must begin before exceeding specified thresholds and continue at intervals defined in the directive. Any discrepancies found require immediate engine removal from service and repair per Airbus instructions before further flight. For aircraft without affected engines, installation of such engines is allowed only if inspections are conducted after installation.
Never miss an EASA deadline for your fleet
Get a filtered weekly digest with AI summaries and action items — every Monday.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.