Best Practices

Maintenance Briefing Notes

Maintenance Briefing Notes

Best Practices

PDA…”Too fast fastened fasteners…???”

At a recent Industrie Steering Group Meeting I recognized a heightened sense of

awareness regarding (PDA) or “Parts Departing Aircraft”.
In this issue of the Maintenance Briefing Notes (MBNs) we take the opportunity to raise
awareness on this subject.
I hope you find this issue interesting and worthwhile. Allow me to re-emphasize at this
point that your inputs are “key” to the content of future MBNs, hence we look forward
to your feedback.

Best Regards

Frank Schreiber
Vice President
Maintenance Programmes and Services

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Maintenance Briefing Notes

I Introduction
This issue of the Maintenance Briefing Notes is dedicated to reports of structural parts
found detached from the aircraft, often detected during walk around inspections, known
in the industry as “Parts Departing Aircraft” (PDA), not related to any particular
manufacturer or aircraft type.
Our objective is to increase awareness that even frequent “simple” maintenance tasks,
like fixing fasteners, may lead to third party damage, airworthiness concerns,
operational interruptions and their related cost.

II In-service report
A typical report, from our database is quoted below:

Quote
In March 2009, Company “A” reported MSN xyz had blow down panel 522LB
partially missing (F574-50665-000-00Z).
The damaged panel was reported as having been modified as per mandatory SB 57-
3091.
The operator reported that the panel 522LB had been removed five days before the
reported incident during performance of regular MPD Task 278000-01-100. No
previous damage on the panel, such as cracks, had been noticed during removal
and reinstallation.
There was no report issued on overpressure, neither were there any problems noted
during embodiment of the SB 57-3091.
Attached is the Damage Report sent to AIRTAC (Airbus Technical AOG Centre),
providing dimensions of the missing part, and that no additional damage had been
found on the surrounding structure.
Unquote

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Wing leading edge blow down panel lost

In the above mentioned particular case, the panel design incorporates a captive quick
release fastener with a female thread that engages with a male threaded element
attached to the landing strip of the sub structure. These are not quarter turn quick
release fasteners but long threaded fasteners. This will ensure proper engagement of
the fastener within the receptacle. Max locking torque for the fastener system is
achieved when using the receptacle identified in the mandatory SB.
Parts usually reported as lost, or partially lost, include items such as:
• Wing leading and trailing edge access panels
• On- ing landing light lenses
• Hydraulic servicing panels
• Water servicing panels
• Wing shroud box panels
• Detached parts due to spoiler delamination

Missing hydraulic servicing panel

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III PDA event handling

PDA events are treated as system lost / significant malfunction occurrences, and as
such, follow the continued airworthiness process.
Each reported event is investigated to evaluate if any technical malfunction, or design
features could have been at the origin to the PDA event.
Also, maintenance procedures as described in the AMM chapter’s have been subject of
critical reviews in order to exclude any unclear work process description and
illustrations.
Apart from the above mentioned modification (SB 57-3091), no other design reason
could be confirmed.

Consulting the database of reported PDA events, we find an overall average of about 10
PDA occurrences per 1000 airplanes, without an up or down trend over the past years.
Looking at the distribution in terms of ATA chapters, there is a peak of occurrences in
structures (service panels), and in particular the wing leading and trailing edge access,
and blow down panels.

Wing access panel, A300-600:

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Maintenance Briefing Notes

Wing blow down panel, A340:

Further analysing the various reports on file, there is one common element in the
vast majority of cases, namely PDA occurrances just after, or within a few flights
after, a scheduled task has been performed, during which the affected panel was
removed and, re-installed.
In at least one case, a verbal report explains that during the maintenance operation
in question, shift hand-over took place. It was suggesting that the concerned panel
was only “loosly” attached to the structure and not properly fixed by the leaving
shift, without informing the following shift accordingly.

The removal / replacement of this access panel is considered a normal maintenance

action and there are a number of MPD tasks at differing thresholds and intervals
where panel 522LB is removed for access. The AMM provides detailed instructions
for panel removal and re-installation. The instructions are clear, unambiguous and
considered simple to perform.

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IV Reporting is key

Reporting is a key element and essential to identify solutions, and to monitor the
effectiveness of previously issued modifications.
In order to support and structure the reporting of PDA events, Airbus Service
Information Letter SIL 00-097 was published and is available. Airbus has also issued an
(OIT) Operator Information Telex on the subject, SE 999.0038/09/EG, dated 20 May
2009.

V Conclusion

The author does not wish to give the impression of finger pointing to the maintenance
of being the sole cause of PDA events.
It is perfectly recognized that the significant number of maintenance tasks requiring the
removal and installation of panels, will also increase the likelihood that panels will not
be fixed as intended. This in combination with high workload, time pressure, and other
factors the maintainer is confronted with every day, and which the reader can better
assess than the author.
Our intention with this Maintenance Briefing Note is to raise awareness, and to motivate
you by reporting as detailed as possible PDA events, so that we as the manufacturer
can play our role in assessing our design and maintenance procedures for possible
improvements, and to share the information with the industrie.
We would also appreciate to get your feedback to this issue of the Maintenance Briefing
Notes, and your suggestions for other subjects worth to be written in this publication.

Uwe Eggerling
Author Maintenance Briefing Notes
Maintenance Programmes & Services
Customer Services

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Maintenance Briefing Notes

This Maintenance Briefing Note (MBN) is part of a set of Briefing Notes that provide an overview of the applicable standards,
techniques, best practices, human factors, suggested company prevention strategies and personal lines-of-defense related to
major threats and hazards that may affect maintenance.

This MBN is intended to enhance the reader's safety awareness but it shall not supersede the applicable regulations and the
Airbus or airline's maintenance documentation; should any deviation appear between this MBN and the Airbus or airline’s
maintenance documentation, the latter shall prevail at all times.

In the interest of aviation safety, this MBN may be reproduced in whole or in part - in all media - or translated; any use of
this MBN shall not modify its contents or alter an excerpt from its original context. Any commercial use is strictly excluded.
All uses shall credit Airbus.

Airbus shall have no liability or responsibility for the implementation or use of this MBN, the correctness of the duplication,
adaptation or translation and for the updating and revision of any duplicated version.

Airbus Customer Services

Maintenance Programs and Services
1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte - 31707 BLAGNAC CEDEX FRANCE
MBN Reference : MAINT – Best Practices –October 2009

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