EASA AD US-2025-05-10
Principal Structural Elements (PSEs) - Inspection / Revision of Maintenance Program
Summary
The Principal Structural Elements (PSEs) - Inspection / Revision of Maintenance Program is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive (AD 2025-05-10) that applies to certain Boeing 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This final rule updates and supersedes the previous AD 2012-07-06 by requiring revisions to the maintenance program to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations aimed at detecting fatigue cracking in principal structural elements. The directive ensures continued structural integrity and safety of the affected Boeing 777 aircraft.
What Changed
This AD supersedes AD 2012-07-06 by mandating updates to the maintenance or inspection programs to include the latest revisions from Boeing's April 2023 Maintenance Planning Data and Damage Tolerance Rating Check Form documents. It introduces new and more restrictive inspection requirements and life limits for principal structural elements. Additionally, it requires operators to report inspection results to Boeing.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses the risk of fatigue cracking in key structural components, which could compromise aircraft safety if not detected and managed properly. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to maintain airworthiness and avoid potential structural failures. The updated requirements ensure that inspection programs reflect the latest safety data and engineering assessments, helping to prevent costly repairs and operational disruptions.
What To Do
Affected operators must revise their maintenance or inspection programs to incorporate the new airworthiness limitations by May 13, 2025. They must also continue to comply with retained requirements from the previous AD until the new revisions are fully implemented. Additionally, operators are required to submit inspection results to Boeing as specified in the directive.