EASA AD No.

: 2021-0167

Airworthiness Directive
AD No.: 2021-0167
Issued: 14 July 2021
Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139 on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and of the European third
countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 129 of that Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the
continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an aircraft to which
an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I,
Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Article 71 exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):

AIRBUS A318, A319, A320 and A321 aeroplanes

Effective Date: 28 July 2021

TCDS Number(s): EASA.A.064
Foreign AD: Not applicable
Supersedure: This AD supersedes EASA AD 2017-0117 dated 07 July 2017.

ATA 57 – Wings – Stringer Attachments at Rib 2 to Rib 7 – Inspection / Modification

Manufacturer(s):
Airbus, formerly Airbus Industrie

Applicability:
Airbus A318-111, A318-112, A318-121, A318-122, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114,
A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-215, A320-216,
A320-231, A320-232, A320-233, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213,
A321-231 and A321-232 aeroplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers, except:
- A318 aeroplanes on which modification (mod) 39195 has been embodied in production, or
Service Bulletin (SB) A320-00-1219 has been accomplished in service.
- A319 aeroplanes on which mod 28238, mod 28162 and mod 28342 have been embodied in
production.

Definitions:
Groups: Group 1 aeroplanes are those on which none of the following mod has been embodied in
production, and none of the following SB has been accomplished in service, as applicable:
- mod 155374 or SB A320-00-1260
- mod 34650 or SB A320-32-1308
- mod 152970 or SBA320-32-1422

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Group 2 aeroplanes are those on which any of the following mod has been embodied in production,
or any of the following SB has been accomplished in service, as applicable:
- mod 155374 or SB A320-00-1260
- mod 34650 or SB A320-32-1308
- mod 152970 or SB A320-32-1422

The SB: Airbus SB A320-57-1208 Revision 01.

The affected holes: Affected holes on both left-hand and right-hand sides, as identified in the SB.

Aeroplane date of manufacture: The date of transfer of title (ownership) at the time of first
delivery to an operator, which is referenced in Airbus documentation.

Reason:
Within the scope of work of service life extension for A320 aeroplanes and of widespread fatigue
damage evaluations, it has been determined that a structural modification is required to allow the
aeroplanes to continue operation up to the limit of validity (LoV).

This condition, if not corrected, may affect the structural integrity of the wing.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus issued SB A320-57-1208, providing instructions to
oversize the holes of the upper cleat to upper stringer attachments at Rib 2 to Rib 7 (inclusive).
Consequently, EASA published AD 2017-0117 to require modification of the affected holes.

Since that AD was issued, Airbus identified additional affected configurations, and determined that
additional work may be required on aeroplanes modified in accordance with the instructions of
SB A320-57-1208. Consequently, Airbus issued the SB, as defined in this AD, including new specific
configurations for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) aeroplanes operation and
additional modification requirements.

For the reasons described above, this AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 2017-0117, which is
superseded, introducing different compliance time for certain aeroplane configurations and
additional work for aeroplanes on which Airbus SB A320-57-1208 has been accomplished.

Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Modification and Inspection:

(1) For Group 1 aeroplanes: Within the upper limit as defined in Table 1 of this AD, but not before
the lower limit as defined in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable, modify the aeroplane by
accomplishing the oversizing of the affected holes in accordance with the instructions of the SB
(see Note 1 of this AD).

Note 1: For the purpose of this AD, modification of an affected hole includes an Eddy Current
Inspection (ECI) of that affected hole in accordance with the instructions of the SB.

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Table 1 – Window of Embodiment

(flight hours (FH) or flight cycles (FC), whichever occurs first since aeroplane date of
manufacture)

Lower Limit Upper Limit

Aeroplane
FH FC FH FC
A318-100 94 000 47 000 159 200 79 600
Pre-mod 160001 and
A319-100 94 000 47 000 159 200 79 600
pre-SB A320-57-1193
A320-200 94 000 47 000 159 200 79 600
A319-100 Post-mod 160001 or 52 300 26 200 101 600 50 800
A320-200 post-SB A320-57-1193 52 300 26 200 101 600 50 800
A321-100 101 200 50 600 148 300 74 100
Pre-mod 160021
A321-200 101 200 50 600 148 300 74 100
A321-200 Post-mod 160021 44 800 22 400 112 800 56 400

(2) For Group 2 aeroplanes: Within the upper limit as defined in Table 2 of this AD, but not before
the lower limit as defined in Table 2 of this AD, as applicable, modify the aeroplane by
accomplishing the oversizing of the affected holes in accordance with the instructions of the SB
(see Note 1 of this AD).

Table 2 – Window of Embodiment

(FH or FC, whichever occurs first since aeroplane date of manufacture)

Lower Limit Upper Limit

Aeroplane
FH FC FH FC
A319-100 93 900 47 000 159 200 79 600
Pre-mod 160001
A320-200 116 300 58 200 125 600 62 800
A319-100 52 100 26 100 101 800 50 900
Post-mod 160001
A320-200 66 500 33 300 80 300 40 100
A319-100 52 300 26 200 101 600 50 800
Post-SB A320-57-1193
A320-200 66 600 33 300 80 100 40 000
A321-100 76 000 38 000 93 400 46 700
Pre-mod 160021
A321-200 76 000 38 000 93 400 46 700
A321-200 Post-mod 160021 61 100 30 600 71 000 35 500

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Corrective Action:
(3) If, during any High Frequency ECI as required by paragraph (1) or (2) of this AD, as applicable,
any damage is found, before next flight, contact Airbus for approved corrective action
instructions and, within the compliance time specified therein, accomplish those instructions
accordingly.

Additional Work:
(4) For aeroplanes on which, before the effective date of this AD, Airbus SB A320-57-1208 at
original issue has been accomplished, within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
contact Airbus for approved instructions and, within the compliance time specified therein,
accomplish those instructions accordingly.

Ref. Publications:
Airbus SB A320-57-1208 original issue dated 21 November 2016, or Revision 01 dated 23 September
2019.

The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned document is acceptable for compliance
with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks:
1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve Alternative Methods of
Compliance for this AD.

2. This AD was posted on 11 February 2021 as PAD 21-020 for consultation until 11 March 2021.
The Comment Response Document can be found in the EASA Safety Publications Tool, in the
compressed (zipped) file attached to the record for this AD.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the EASA Safety Information Section,
Certification Directorate. E-mail: [email protected].

4. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this AD, and which may occur, or have occurred on
a product, part or appliance not affected by this AD, can be reported to the EU aviation safety
reporting system. This may include reporting on the same or similar components, other than
those covered by the design to which this AD applies, if the same unsafe condition can exist or
may develop on an aircraft with those components installed. Such components may be
installed under an FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) or other modification.

5. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this AD, please
contact: AIRBUS – Airworthiness Office – IIASA; E-mail: [email protected].

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