EASA AD 2022-0019
SUPERSEDED BY EASA AD 2022-0174
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0019 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes. It mandates inspections of specific wing spars, including the outer rear spar, outer inner front spar, and outer front spar, to detect cracks that could compromise structural integrity. This directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers and wing box assembly dates as specified.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0019 supersedes the previous AD 2019-0223 and expands the inspection requirements to include additional affected wing areas and all Airbus A380 serial numbers. It extends the applicability to aeroplanes in pre-modification 77989 and 77990 configurations and introduces detailed ultrasonic inspections at specified intervals.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of Airbus A380 wings by ensuring early detection and repair of cracks in key wing spars. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must adhere to these inspection intervals to prevent potential safety risks and ensure continued airworthiness. Failure to comply could result in unsafe flight conditions and regulatory non-compliance.
What To Do
Operators must perform special detailed ultrasonic inspections of the affected wing spars before the aircraft reaches 180 months since wing box assembly and repeat inspections every 36 months thereafter. If cracks are found, repairs must be carried out before the next flight following Airbus-approved instructions. Inspection results must be reported to Airbus within 30 days after each inspection.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.