Wings – Bottom Wing Skin Panel 2 – Inspection
Superseded. Comply with 2024-0027, which replaces this document.
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft must perform detailed visual inspections of the bottom wing skin panel 2 within specified flight hour or cycle thresholds and repeat them at intervals not exceeding 4,000 flight hours or 2,000 flight cycles. Any detected discrepancies must be addressed before the next flight following Airbus-approved instructions. Inspection results must be reported to Airbus within 30 days of each inspection. Compliance deadlines vary based on aircraft usage but generally require action within 30 to 60 days from the directive's effective date of 2021-11-30.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0256 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It addresses potential fatigue cracking in the bottom wing skin panel 2 around the wing manhole access panels on aircraft equipped with Sharklets. The directive mandates repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect and correct any cracks to maintain structural integrity.
What changed
This directive introduces mandatory repetitive detailed visual inspections of specific wing areas on affected Airbus A319, A320, and A321 models to identify fatigue cracking. It also requires corrective actions if discrepancies are found and reporting of inspection results to Airbus. The directive applies to aircraft with certain production modifications or service bulletins and defines inspection thresholds based on flight hours and cycles.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it ensures early detection of fatigue cracks that could compromise wing structural integrity, thereby enhancing flight safety. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to avoid potential structural failures and regulatory non-compliance. It also provides clear inspection intervals and corrective procedures, aiding maintenance planning and regulatory adherence.
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