Wings – Front Spar Vertical Stringers – Inspection
Superseded. Comply with 2023-0205, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2017-0099
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 special detailed inspections within specified flight cycle or flight hour limits and continue repetitive inspections at defined intervals. If cracks are found, approved corrective actions must be taken before further flight. Additionally, certain aircraft configurations require modification of the center wing box area within specified compliance times. Stakeholders should consult the referenced Airbus Service Bulletins for detailed instructions.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0241 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It addresses the inspection and maintenance of the wing front spar vertical stringers to detect and prevent cracks that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. This directive applies to various Airbus models except those modified with specific structural reinforcements related to sharklet installations.
What changed
EASA AD 2021-0241 supersedes the previous AD 2017-0099 and introduces updated inspection requirements including special detailed inspections (SDI) of the spar vertical stringer radius and related components. It expands the applicability to include additional aircraft configurations and updates inspection thresholds and intervals. The directive also mandates modifications in the center wing box area as a corrective or terminating action depending on aircraft configuration.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it ensures continued structural integrity and safety of affected Airbus aircraft by mandating timely inspections and necessary modifications. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to prevent crack propagation that could lead to structural failure. Compliance with this AD supports regulatory adherence and helps maintain airworthiness certification.
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