EASA AD 2024-0230
Wings — Bottom Wing Skin Panel 2 — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0230 is an airworthiness directive addressing inspection requirements for the bottom wing skin panel 2 on Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aeroplanes, including both Current Engine Option (CEO) and New Engine Option (NEO) models. It mandates detailed inspections of specific wing areas prone to fatigue cracking, particularly around the bottom wing skin manhole access panel number 2 between ribs 13 and 26. The directive applies to all manufacturer serial numbers of the affected aircraft models.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2024-0230 supersedes AD 2024-0027 and updates inspection compliance times and procedures based on new investigation results. It prohibits the use of certain deactivated Structural Repair Manual (SRM) tasks and allows the use of updated SRM task 57-21-11-300-009 at Revision May 2024 or later. Additionally, it expands applicability to include NEO aeroplanes and introduces revised post-repair inspection requirements and corrective actions.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 wings by preventing fatigue cracking that could compromise safety. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must adhere to the updated inspection intervals and repair instructions to avoid potential structural failures. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and regulatory conformity, reducing the risk of in-service incidents related to wing structure fatigue.
What To Do
Operators of affected Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft must perform detailed inspections of the bottom wing skin panel 2 before exceeding specified flight thresholds and continue at defined intervals. Any findings require contacting Airbus for approved repair instructions and completing corrective actions within the specified compliance times. Reports of inspection results must be submitted to Airbus within 30 days, and certain SRM repair tasks must no longer be used from the effective date of 16 December 2024.