Navigate / EASA

21.A.3B Airworthiness directives

Regulation (EU) No 748/2012

(a)     An airworthiness directive means a document issued or adopted by the Agency which mandates actions to be performed on an aircraft to restore an acceptable level of safety, when evidence shows that the safety level of this aircraft may otherwise be compromised.

(b)     The Agency shall issue an airworthiness directive when:

1.       an unsafe condition has been determined by the Agency to exist in an aircraft, as a result of a deficiency in the aircraft, or an engine, propeller, part or appliance installed on this aircraft; and

2.       that condition is likely to exist or develop in other aircraft.

(c)      When an airworthiness directive has to be issued by the agency to correct the unsafe condition referred to in point (b), or to require the performance of an inspection, the holder of the type-certificate, restricted type-certificate, supplemental type-certificate, major repair design approval, ETSO authorisation or any other relevant approval deemed to have been issued under this Regulation, shall:

1.       propose the appropriate corrective action or required inspections, or both, and submit details of these proposals to the Agency for approval;

2.       following the approval by the Agency of the proposals referred to under point (1), make available to all known operators or owners of the product, part or appliance and, on request, to any person required to comply with the airworthiness directive, appropriate descriptive data and accomplishment instructions.

(d)     An airworthiness directive shall contain at least the following information:

1.       an identification of the unsafe condition;

2.       an identification of the affected aircraft;

3.       the action(s) required;

4.       the compliance time for the required action(s);

5.       the date of entry into force.