September 2014

Airbus Customer Services

Engineering & Maintenance

Maintenance Briefing
Note

Parts Departing Aircraft (PDA)

Parts Departing Aircraft remains to be a main concern for the

operators and for the Airworthiness Authorities, and is a
subject not related to any particular aircraft type or
manufacturer.
This Maintenance Briefing Note provides an update and
raises awareness on the importance of routine maintenance
tasks and the importance of reporting.
 September 2014

Parts Departing Aircraft (PDA) update

What happened?
Listed below are in-service events classified as “significant” and related to the subject of Parts
Departing Aircraft known as “PDA”.
The events were reported on Airbus A320 and A330/A340 Family aircraft types, and received
during only one week.
Each of these events had led to costly flight cancellation and repairs.
The events are listed as just one typical example of the recurrent PDA reports from the operators.

Operator report Comments

Engine No.1 LH C-duct tertiary During walk around the engine

lock access panel missing. 1 thrust reverser lock access
panel was found missing.

In-flight turn back due to RH Centre Landing Gear door not

Centre Landing Gear door not closed after take-off. Door
closed. uplock roller found missing.

Access door missing. During walk around check, air

condition ground access door
found missing.
Intake NACA panel assembly During taxi-in, loss of the intake
lost. NACA assembly panel.
Suspected maintenance error
as no fasteners found on the
panel or the attaching structure.

Rejected take-off due to Engine Rejected take-off due to engine

1 failure. stall and engine failure. Fumes
and flames out of the engine
were reported. Debris ejected
from the engine leading to
adjacent aircraft structure
damage and PDA.

Vertical stabilizer trailing edge At take-off after C-check, loss of

panel missing. a vertical stabilizer panel
leading to rudder damage.
Wrong installation during
maintenance.
Refuel cap missing. Refuelling cap found missing at
arrival.

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 September 2014

Parts Departing Aircraft (PDA) update

• Why does it happen?

The subject of PDA remains to be a concern in the industry and for the Airworthiness Authorities,
and is not related to any particular aircraft type or manufacturer.
In the vast majority of reported PDA events they happened just after, or within a few flights after a
maintenance task was performed during which the affected part was opened, removed, or re-
installed.
The parts which are usually reported as lost, or partially lost, include items such as:
• Wing leading and trailing edge access panels
• On-wing landing light lenses
• Hydraulic servicing panels
• Water servicing panels
• Wing shroud box panels
• Detached parts due to flight control composite surface delamination
• Engine oil servicing panels
• Fuel panels

The Airbus database shows in particular the most concerned parts are the Fuel panels and Water
servicing panels.
These are parts which are frequently operated and particular attention should be paid to them.

• Lessons learned
Our objective is to increase awareness that also frequent, and simple maintenance tasks (fixing
fasteners, closing servicing panels,…) may lead to third party damage, airworthiness concerns,
operational interruptions and their related costs.
Equally important are also correctly prepared and filled paperwork such as job instruction cards.
The AMM provides detailed instructions which are clear, unambiguous and considered simple to
perform.

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 September 2014

Example: the Refuel cap PDA

A frequently reported PDA is the

refuel cap.
The refuel cap is attached with a
chain. In the vast majority of
cases, the chain is reported
missing and has therefore not
retained the refuel cap when not
correctly re-installed. The chain
may have been removed
intentionally or got detached. It is
important that this chain is
confirmed to be always in place.

Attachment chain Reported PDA

Example: the Water Servicing Panel

The Water Servicing Panel for the A330/A340 Family aircraft, was modified in 2012 with
the Airbus SB’s 52-3086/4094/5019.
Airbus has not received any further event report on the post-modification configuration.

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© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
 September 2014

Parts Departing Aircraft (PDA) update

Reporting is key:
Reporting is a key element 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 industry.
In order to facilitate the reporting, Airbus has made available the PDA Reporting Sheet through
the:
• Service Information Letter, SIL 00-097
• OIT 999.0038/09, Reporting of Part Departing Aircraft (PDA)
• OIT 999.0094/12, ATA 00 Reporting of Part Departing Aircraft (PDA)
• TSM: 05-50-00-810

Refer also to the Airbus Safety First Magazine, Issue 18, July 2014

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 September 2014

© Airbus S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS. No intellectual property rights
are granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS
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We appreciate receiving feedback to this issue of the Maintenance Briefing Notes.

Uwe Eggerling
Senior Director Safety
Engineering & Maintenance
Customer Services

Uwe.eggerling@airbus.com

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
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Airbus Customer Services

Maintenance Engineering Services
1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte - 31707 BLAGNAC CEDEX FRANCE

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