The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a proposed airworthiness directive for Airbus A380 operators to modify panels on Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine pylons to avoid a risk of fuel fire, after test flights showed overheating in the area.
In the proposed AD issued today, EASA said detection of overheating has been reported during test flights in pylon zone B1 on Trent 900s installed on A380s.
"A thermal analysis revealed that, in specific flight cases, the temperature in the affected fuel/hydraulic compartment of the pylon can exceed the allowable limit," said the agency.
It warned that if not corrected, this could lead to "an ignition of fuel vapours" in the case of a fuel leak and result in a fuel fire.
The AD called for modification of the forward secondary structure panels of each engine pylon for ventilation holes to be installed within 10 months of the effective date of the AD.
EASA has invited consultation of the proposed AD, which will close on 28 October.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
