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FAA proposes crack inspections for Airbus A320-family due to wing integrity concerns

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FAA proposes crack inspections for Airbus A320-family due to wing integrity concerns
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Airbus A319ceo | Airbus Website

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a proposed directive for Airbus A319ceo, A320ceo, and A321ceo aircraft following guidance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The directive targets potential cracks on Airbus A320-family narrowbody jets equipped with Sharklets, a wingtip device, requiring repetitive inspections to ensure structural integrity.

The need for inspections emerged after cracks were identified during fatigue tests for the new lower wing cover material on Sharklet-equipped aircraft. The FAA warned that failing to address these cracks could compromise wing integrity. This proposed directive, issued as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 16, builds on EASA's reference directive from December 2, 2024.

EASA’s directive requires repetitive inspections between rib 19 and rib 21, forward of stringer 8, on both sides of the aircraft. Airlines must seek Airbus repair instructions if they discover cracks. While EASA did not specify the number of affected aircraft, the FAA estimates that 1,924 A319ceo, A320ceo, and A321ceo aircraft in the US might require inspections. Each inspection could take up to seven working hours, costing $595 per aircraft, with a total potential expenditure of $1.1 million for all affected US aircraft.

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EASA categorizes the affected aircraft into five groups, with specific flight hour (FH) and flight cycle (FC) limits set for initial and subsequent inspections. Group 1 and Group 3 aircraft, the A319ceo and A320ceo, require inspections at 51,200 FH or 25,600 FC since first flight, or within three months after November 4, 2024. Meanwhile, Group 2 (ACJ319) and Group 4 (A321ceo) aircraft have different inspection requirements.

According to available data, there are currently 229 active A319ceo aircraft, 258 active A320ceo aircraft, and 78 active A321neo aircraft meeting the initial inspection criteria. Subsequent inspections must occur at 15,800 FH or 7,900 FC for Group 1 and Group 3, and 9,000 FH or 4,500 FC for Group 4.

Despite the required inspections, the directive is expected to cause only minor changes to the IAE V2500 engine maintenance manual. Airbus began delivering A320ceo family aircraft with Sharklets in December 2012. The devices, introduced to improve fuel efficiency, can be retrofitted on older aircraft to reduce operational costs and extend service life.

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