EASA AD 2022-0078: Fuselage — Door Frames Holes — Inspection

What to do

Operators of Airbus A300-600 and A310 aeroplanes must perform High Frequency Eddy Current inspections of the affected door frame holes within specified compliance times, not exceeding 7,500 flight cycles between inspections. If cracks are found, approved repair instructions from Airbus must be followed before further flight. Compliance deadlines vary by aircraft group but generally require initial inspections by May 18, 2022, or within months after that date depending on aircraft configuration.

Summary

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0078 is an airworthiness directive affecting Airbus A300-600 and A310 aeroplanes. It mandates inspections of rivet heads at specific door frame holes to detect cracks that could compromise structural integrity. The directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers of the affected models and requires repetitive High Frequency Eddy Current inspections.

What changed

This directive supersedes EASA AD 2014-0202R1 and expands the inspection requirements to include all Airbus A300-600 and A310 aeroplanes, including those in pre-mod 06924 configuration. It introduces new compliance times and inspection intervals for detecting cracks in door frame holes at frames 56A, 57A, and 73A. The directive also clarifies corrective actions and retains repetitive inspection requirements even after repairs unless otherwise specified.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent potential structural failures caused by undetected cracks in door frame areas. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and safety. The expanded applicability means more aircraft are subject to these inspections, increasing the scope of maintenance planning and resource allocation.

What to do

Summary

What changed

Why it matters

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