The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Nearly 140 Airbus A330neos Now Face Inspections For Tools Left Inside Their Tails
An update on the inspection is expected in November.
Airbus is recommending additional inspections of 139 Airbus A330neo aircraft that have already been delivered to airlines after a tool was found inside the horizontal tail structure of one jet during production. The inspections will cover aircraft delivered from 2021 through the end of May 2026.
The checks extend beyond aircraft still at Airbus facilities, encompassing delivered aircraft in service with operators. Airbus says there is no immediate safety concern and that an aircraft can remain safe to operate even if a similar tool is present in the tail area.
NBAA reported that Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are collaborating on the inspection approach, with another update anticipated in mid-November. Further details on the scope or procedures are not provided in the material.
No dates, locations, injuries, or outcomes beyond the existence of inspections and the timeline for updates are stated in the material. The report focuses on the recommended inspections and the involvement of EASA and NBAA in developing the approach.