Wings — Centre and Outer Wing Box Lower Panels / Stiffeners — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2018-0218
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 internal and external special detailed inspections of the wing box lower stiffeners and panels within specified compliance times, generally before exceeding 96,000 flight hours or 48,000 flight cycles, or within 12 months after the AD effective date, whichever is later. Inspections must be repeated at intervals defined in the AD, and any damage found must be repaired following Airbus-approved instructions. Compliance with the AD is mandatory by 26 October 2021.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0228 mandates repetitive inspections of the centre and outer wing box lower panels and stiffeners at the Rib 1 junction on Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. This directive addresses potential structural integrity issues caused by non-compliant taperlok fasteners in the wing-to-fuselage junction. The inspections include both internal and external special detailed inspections as specified in Airbus Service Bulletins.
What changed
EASA AD 2021-0228 supersedes the previous AD 2018-0218, updating the compliance times for A320 models and expanding the applicability to include additional aircraft configurations. It clarifies that previous revisions of applicable modification service bulletins do not terminate the inspection requirements and introduces revised inspection intervals and thresholds based on new findings related to ageing effects on the wing box components.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of affected Airbus aircraft by ensuring early detection and correction of potential fastener pre-tension loss at the wing-to-fuselage junction. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must adhere to these inspections to prevent possible structural failures and ensure continued airworthiness. Failure to comply could lead to unsafe conditions and regulatory non-compliance.
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New ADs and bulletins for Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321, summarized like this page, every Monday.