Wings — Outer Wing Bottom Buttstrap — Inspections
- Published
- Effective
- Replaces
- 2024-0201
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes must perform special detailed inspections of the specified wing area before exceeding defined flight hour or cycle thresholds or within three months after 4 November 2024, whichever occurs later. If discrepancies are found, approved repair instructions from Airbus must be followed before the next flight. For Group 5 aeroplanes, modification according to specified Airbus service bulletins is required to reclassify the aircraft into Groups 1 to 4 and then comply with inspection requirements.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0201R1 is an updated regulatory requirement addressing inspections of the outer wing bottom buttstrap on Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes. It mandates repetitive special detailed inspections of the wing surface area between rib 19 and rib 21 forward of stringer 8 on both left and right sides to detect cracks that could compromise structural integrity. This directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers of the specified Airbus models.
What changed
This revision clarifies the allowance to defer the initial inspection compliance time and amends the inspection method definition to a special detailed inspection (SDI). It also adds a note to specify that the effective date of the Airbus Alert Operators Transmission must be used when deferring inspections. The AD replaces the original issue dated 21 October 2024.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 wings, especially those equipped with sharklets, by ensuring early detection and correction of fatigue cracks. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to prevent potential safety risks and regulatory non-compliance. The inspections and corrective actions help avoid costly repairs and unplanned downtime by addressing issues before they worsen.
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