Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
Key claim: Operators of certain Airbus A320 and A321 airplanes must inspect the bulk cargo door’s upper corners for fatigue cracks and take any required follow-up repairs.
Abstract
(Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and - 233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a fatigue test that identified cracks in the forward and aft upper corner of the bulk cargo door. This AD requires a rototest inspection for cracks and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
[This finding represents 2 closely related documents issued 2026-08-27 (same source, same action). Related: fedreg:2026-17551]
Why this matters
Fatigue cracking at cargo door corners is a recurring structural concern on aging narrowbody fleets, and unaddressed cracks around pressurized door cutouts can compromise fuselage integrity. This AD keeps the A320/A321 bulk cargo door on a defined inspection cadence, adding another entry to the steady stream of FAA structural ADs targeting Airbus single-aisle aircraft.