Airworthiness DirectiveEASA AD US-2021-08-19

Superseded by FAA AD 2023-08-02

Published: Apr 28, 2021
Effective: May 5, 2021
Deadline: May 5, 2021
Replaces: 2021-02-19

Boeing 787 8 9 10

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Operators of affected Boeing 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes must perform repetitive general visual inspections of the bilge barrier decompression panels every 4 calendar months. Any disengaged but undamaged panels must be reinstalled, and damaged panels must be replaced with new or serviceable parts. If panels are found damaged or disengaged, operation is permitted only under an FAA-approved minimum equipment list that addresses these conditions. Comments on the AD were invited by June 4, 2021, and the AD became effective on May 5, 2021.

Summary

Airworthiness Directive 2021-08-19 is a final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that applies to certain Boeing Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. It addresses the condition of decompression panels in the bilge barriers located in the forward and aft cargo compartments, requiring inspections and corrective actions to ensure fire suppression effectiveness. This directive supersedes AD 2021-02-19 and expands the applicability to include additional airplanes.

What changed

This AD retains the inspection and replacement requirements of AD 2021-02-19 but revises the applicability to cover all Boeing 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes, including those previously omitted. The repetitive inspection interval was changed from 120 days to 4 calendar months to better align with routine maintenance schedules. It also clarifies the definition of serviceable parts and allows operation under an FAA-approved minimum equipment list if decompression panels are damaged or disengaged.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals because damaged or disengaged decompression panels in the cargo compartment bilge area can lead to insufficient Halon concentration during a cargo fire, compromising fire suppression and potentially endangering safe flight and landing. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely inspections and repairs to maintain aircraft safety and regulatory compliance. The expanded applicability means more aircraft require monitoring, increasing the scope of maintenance oversight.

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