EASA AD 2022-0266
Electric and Electronic Common Installation — Cockpit Panel Bracket — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2022-0266 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It mandates detailed inspections of the 10VU rack side fittings on cockpit panel brackets to detect cracks that could affect primary flight and navigation displays. The directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers except those with Airbus modification 157335 embodied in production.
What Changed
This directive supersedes EASA AD 2018-0131 and reduces the inspection intervals for detecting cracks on the 10VU rack fitting lugs. It retains previous inspection and repair requirements but mandates more frequent detailed inspections to ensure timely detection of potential cracks. Additionally, it expands inspection applicability to both pre- and post-modification 35869 aeroplanes.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as undetected cracks in the 10VU rack fittings can cause high vibration levels on primary flight and navigation displays, potentially impairing crew readability during critical flight phases such as take-off and landing. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft safety and airworthiness. The reduced inspection intervals help prevent in-service failures and enhance operational reliability.
What To Do
Operators must perform detailed inspections of the 10VU rack fitting lugs within the specified compliance times, not exceeding 10,000 flight cycles or 20,000 flight hours between inspections. If cracks are found on one lug, repairs must be completed within 5,000 flight cycles or 10,000 flight hours, or within 24 months. Cracks on two or more lugs require immediate repair before the next flight. Inspection results must be reported to Airbus within 90 days after each inspection.
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