Pneumatic — Pylon / Wing Interface Bleed Duct and Fuel Pipe — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Replaces
- 2020-0286
- Replaces
- 2021-0280
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aircraft must perform repetitive inspections of the bleed duct and fuel pipe at specified intervals depending on aircraft configuration, with initial inspections required within 50 flight cycles or 400 flight hours for pre-modification aircraft. An interim modification must be completed within 300 flight cycles or 2,400 flight hours after 31 December 2021 for affected aircraft. Any discrepancies found during inspections must be corrected before further flight, and inspection findings with discrepancies must be reported to Airbus within 30 days.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0280R1 is an updated regulatory requirement addressing inspection and modification of the pneumatic pylon/wing interface bleed duct and fuel pipe on Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes. It mandates repetitive inspections and an interim modification to prevent potential bleed duct detachment and subsequent risk of fire due to contact between the bleed duct and fuel pipe. This directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers of the affected Airbus A380 models.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0280R1 revises the previous AD 2021-0280 by removing the requirement for systematic reporting of all inspection results, including those with no discrepancies, based on Airbus's root cause analysis. It also incorporates administrative updates to align with the latest EASA AD standards while retaining all inspection and modification requirements. The directive continues to consider the actions interim, with potential further ADs to follow.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a safety risk involving potential bleed duct detachment that could lead to an uncontrolled fire on Airbus A380 aircraft. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure adherence to the inspection intervals and modification requirements to maintain airworthiness and regulatory compliance. Failure to comply could result in unsafe operating conditions and regulatory penalties.
More for Airbus A380
All 182- EASA PAD 26-125Pneumatic – Pylon / Wing Interface Bleed Duct and Fuel Pipe – Inspection / Modification / ReplacementOct 15, 2026
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- EASA AD 2016-0193R2
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