Airbus A220 operators have been instructed to verify the presence and correct installation of fuse pins in the main landing-gear, after a pin was found to be missing on one aircraft.
Examination of the aircraft during scheduled maintenance determined that a pintle fuse pin in the left-hand main landing-gear was absent, according to an urgent Transport Canada directive.
The regulator states that a missing – or damaged – pin would result in a “significant redistribution of loads” in the landing-gear assembly, and a potential collapse during take-off.
It has not disclosed the circumstances that led to the pin’s being missing on the aircraft referenced, or the operator of the jet. The pintle serves as a pivot for the landing-gear assembly.
Transport Canada has ordered operators to carry out a detailed visual inspection of the assembly to check the pins.
The directive covers both the A220-300 and -100.
Verification must be carried out within 24 cycles, it states. Missing or incorrectly-installed pins need to be reported to Airbus Canada before the aircraft’s next flight.
Airbus says it commenced an investigation to identify the root cause of the missing fuse pin and issued a transmission to all A220 operators, informing them of the situation and recommending a detailed inspection of the pins. This has been mandated by the Transport Canada directive.
Inspections have also been initiated at the Montreal Mirabel and Mobile, Alabama, assembly lines for the twinjet to ensure proper pin installation.
Airbus points out that the issue has not led to any in-service incident.
“As the quality and safety of our aircraft remain our most important priorities, we are working in close collaboration with the transport authorities to ensure the continued airworthiness of the A220, as well as with our customers to minimise the operational impact on their fleet,” it adds.
“We are putting in place all the right actions to prevent further occurrences.”
