Wings — Wing Front and Rear Spars — Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2023-0198
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 special detailed inspections of the affected wing spar areas within the specified compliance times, generally before 13 years since wing box assembly or before returning to service after storage exceeding 12 months. Inspections must be repeated every 36 months unless repairs are made, in which case post-repair inspection intervals apply. Any detected cracks must be repaired following Airbus-approved instructions before further flight. Inspection results must be reported to Airbus within 30 days.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0191 is an airworthiness directive addressing inspection requirements for the wing front and rear spars of Airbus A380-841, A380-842, and A380-861 aeroplanes. It mandates special detailed inspections of specific wing spar areas to detect cracks that could compromise structural integrity. This directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers of these Airbus A380 models.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0191 supersedes the previous AD 2023-0198 and introduces amended compliance thresholds for initial inspections of the wing outer front spar (OFS) and outer inner front spar (OIFS), reducing the threshold generally from 15 years to 13 years since wing box assembly. It also adds a requirement for inspections before returning to service after storage periods longer than 12 months and retains the use of Storage Factored Time on Ground (SFTOG) for determining inspection timing.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it updates inspection intervals and criteria based on recent findings of cracks in wing spars, which could affect the structural safety of Airbus A380 aircraft. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to ensure continued airworthiness and prevent potential structural failures. The directive also clarifies inspection requirements related to aircraft storage, which is increasingly relevant for fleet management.
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