EASA AD 2023-0031
SUPERSEDED BY EASA AD 2023-0124
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2023-0031 is an airworthiness directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency affecting Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes. It addresses the replacement of certain right-hand and left-hand body landing gear rear axles identified as affected due to corrosion and potential failure risks. The directive mandates inspections and replacement of these parts to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2023-0031 supersedes the previous AD 2022-0075, expanding the list of affected body landing gear rear axles and extending some compliance times. It retains the original requirements for removal and replacement of affected parts but introduces additional serial numbers as affected and modifies deadlines for compliance. This AD is considered an interim action pending further investigation.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because failure to comply could result in the failure of the body landing gear rear axle, potentially causing detachment of the wheel assembly during take-off. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure affected parts are identified and replaced to prevent safety hazards and maintain regulatory compliance. The AD impacts maintenance planning and parts inventory management for Airbus A380 operators.
What To Do
Operators of Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes must replace affected body landing gear rear axles before return to service or within 6 to 12 months of the effective date, depending on the part serial number. Installation of affected parts is prohibited from the effective date. Compliance requires following Airbus Alert Operators Transmission A32R026-22 Revision 1 instructions and coordinating with maintenance providers for timely part replacement.
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