Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD 2021-0049

Fire Protection — Operational Limitation Doors — Cargo Door Seals — Cleaning / Greasing / Replacement

Published: Feb 18, 2021
Effective: Mar 4, 2021
Deadline: Mar 4, 2021
Replaces: 2020-0133

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What to do

Operators must clean and grease affected cargo door seals within specified intervals and replace them with improved seals within 96 months of the directive's effective date. For certain A319 aircraft, operations over routes with diversion times exceeding 60 minutes are prohibited until modification. Installation of affected parts is forbidden after modification or from the directive's effective date for some aircraft groups. Amendments to the Aircraft Flight Manual may be required to reflect operational limitations.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0049 is an operational limitation and maintenance directive affecting Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It addresses issues with cargo door seals that may cause reduced halon concentration in cargo compartments, potentially compromising fire extinguishing system effectiveness. The directive applies to specific part numbers of forward, aft, and bulk cargo door seals and mandates cleaning, greasing, and eventual replacement with improved seals.

What changed

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0049 supersedes the previous AD 2020-0133 and introduces the requirement to replace affected cargo door seals with improved versions. It retains the cleaning and greasing requirements but adds an operational limitation for certain A319 aeroplanes restricting routes with diversion times over 60 minutes until the seals are replaced. The directive also prohibits installation of affected parts after modification or from the effective date for certain groups.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for maintaining the effectiveness of fire protection systems in the cargo compartments of affected Airbus aircraft. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to prevent potential failure of fire suppression during flight, which could lead to safety risks. The operational limitation impacts flight planning for certain aircraft until the modification is completed, affecting operational flexibility and compliance management.

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