Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD CF-2018-15R1

Cargo and Accessory Compartment — Dislodged Forward and Aft Cargo Compartment Blow-Out Panels

Published: Jan 13, 2020
Effective: Jan 17, 2020
Deadline: Jan 17, 2020
Replaces: 2018-15

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What to do

Operators must perform initial inspections of the forward and aft cargo compartment blow-out panels within 7 days or 50 flight cycles from 20 June 2018, whichever occurs first, and repeat inspections every 200 flight cycles. Any dislodged panels must be reinstalled before further flight. Within 9350 flight hours or 56 months from the aircraft's manufacture date, the redesigned panel assemblies must be installed as terminating action. Compliance with Airbus Canada Service Bulletin BD500-500001 Issue 001 or later satisfies this requirement.

Summary

Airworthiness Directive CF-2018-15R1 addresses the issue of dislodged forward and aft cargo compartment blow-out panels on Airbus Canada Limited Partnership aeroplanes, specifically models BD-500-1A10 (serial numbers 50001 through 50017) and BD-500-1A11 (serial numbers 55001 through 55044) equipped with certain blow-out panel part numbers. The directive mandates inspections and corrective actions to prevent openings that could compromise fire suppression in cargo compartments. It supersedes the earlier AD CF-2018-15 and introduces redesigned cargo compartment panels as a terminating action.

What changed

This revision, CF-2018-15R1, supersedes AD CF-2018-15 by mandating the installation of redesigned sidewall and bulkhead panel assemblies to reduce the risk of blow-out panel dislodgement. It revises the inspection intervals based on in-service findings and cancels the previous requirement to report dislodged panels. The applicability is limited to aircraft that have not incorporated the redesign in production.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for operators and maintenance organizations to ensure the integrity of cargo compartment blow-out panels, which are essential for maintaining fire suppression effectiveness. Failure to comply could result in uncontrolled cargo compartment fires due to unintended openings allowing smoke and fire to spread. Compliance helps maintain safety standards and regulatory adherence, reducing operational risks.

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