Wings — Lower Main Wing Spar Caps — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2021-0107R1
- Replaces
- 2020-26-16
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must review maintenance records within 30 days of 3 May 2021 and during each 100-hour or annual inspection to determine spar usage and calculate average annual utilization and factored service hours. If factored service hours reach or exceed 5,000, an Eddy-Current inspection of the lower main wing spar cap bolt holes must be completed within 100 flight hours. Any detected cracks exceeding acceptance criteria require immediate spar replacement before further flight.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0107R2 is an updated safety directive addressing inspection requirements for the lower main wing spar caps on Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-28 and PA-32 aeroplanes. It mandates inspections to detect fatigue cracks in the lower main wing spar caps, which could lead to wing separation if undetected. The directive applies to multiple PA-28 and PA-32 models with specific serial numbers and includes detailed definitions and inspection procedures.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0107R2 revises the previous version by clarifying that only a one-time Eddy-Current inspection is required once the calculated factored service hours threshold is reached. It also updates calculation examples for average annual utilization and factored service hours to reflect more realistic scenarios. Additionally, it emphasizes that inspections performed before reaching the required threshold do not satisfy compliance.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent potential wing failures caused by fatigue cracking in the lower main wing spar caps of affected Piper PA-28 and PA-32 aircraft. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure accurate record-keeping and timely inspections to maintain airworthiness and comply with regulatory requirements. Failure to comply could result in unsafe flight conditions and regulatory penalties.
More for Piper Aircraft PA-28 (Archer)
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- EASA SIB SAIB-2022-20Wing Lower Spar Cap Bolt HolesOct 20, 2022
- EASA SIB AIR-21-10Forward Wing Spar to Fuselage Attachment Fittings - Visual InspectionJul 19, 2021
- EASA AD US-2020-26-16NOT ADOPTED - EASA DECISION ATTACHEDFeb 9, 2021
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