EASA updates airworthiness directive for Airbus A350 Rolls-Royce engines

The directive follows inspections revealing that the engine fuel hose may cause fuel leaks.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-0182 for Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines fitted on Airbus A350 aircraft.

Inspections revealed that a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment may lead to fuel manifold main fuel hose degradation. 

The new AD supersedes EASA AD 2024-0174-E, which was issued in response to the serious incident with Cathay Pacific flight CX383, when an A350-1000 experienced an in-flight engine fire shortly after departing Hong Kong on 2 September.

An investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) found that the fire was caused by a ruptured fuel hose connected to one of the engine’s fuel spray nozzles.