Parts Departing from Aircraft (PDA)

Source: Airbus Safety First URL: https://safetyfirst.airbus.com/parts-departing-from-aircraft-pda/ Published: 2014-07-23 Category: Ground Ops, Maintenance, departing, panel,, PDA, TFOA PDF: Original PDF

---

This article, first published in July 2014, has been updated in March 2026.

PARTS DEPARTING FROM AIRCRAFT (PDA) REPRESENT A REAL SAFETY RISK

What is a PDA?

A PDA, also called “Things Falling-Off Aircraft” (TFOA) is any piece of equipment falling from an aircraft, ranging in size from a simple rivet up to a fan cowl.

Why may a PDA represent a potential safety risk?

A PDA may lead to damaged vital parts of the aircraft and/or cause serious or fatal injuries to passengers or people on ground. A part detached during takeoff or landing may also represent a danger to following aircraft, if the part falls on the runway and is ingested by an engine or projected against a control surface for example.

(fig.1 and 2) Example of a lost potable water service panel that damaged the horizontal tail plane

Why Do PDA Events Happen?

In the vast majority of reported PDA events, they happened just after, or a few flights after, a maintenance task during which the affected part was opened, removed, re-installed or repaired.

Some reported events highlight the contribution of other factors independent of aircraft maintenance that can lead to parts detaching from the aircraft.

What are the types of PDA reported to Airbus?

What are the types of PDA reported to Airbus?	What are the types of PDA reported to Airbus?
The parts which are usually reported as lost, or partially lost, include items such
as:
●	Wing leading/trailing edge access panels
●	On-wing landing light lenses
●	Hydraulic servicing panels
●	Water servicing panels
●	Wing shroud box panels
●	Detached parts due to composite surface delamination
●	Engine oil servicing panels

• Engine cowl doors

• Fuel servicing panels

• Antennas

• Wheel tie bolt.

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

Airbus data show that in 2025 more than 200 PDA events were reported. Although the trend shows that the number of reported PDA events is decreasing, today one PDA event is reported every 175 000 FH.

(fig.3) Number of PDA events reported to Airbus

For more information on PDA, you can refer to:

• Maintenance Briefing Note 2025-MBN-00-0006-03-“Parts Departing from Aircraft (PDA)” available on the AirbusWorld portal

• “Preventing Fan Cowl Door Loss” Safety first article published in April 2018.

PREVENTION OF PDA

Preventing PDAs starts with a PDA-proof aircraft design, but it also requires a permanent vigilance of all the actors of the aircraft operations.

Role of the Maintenance Personnel

Accurate application of the procedures

Mechanics may reduce the number of occurrences by accurately complying with the AMM/MP/AMP procedures, making sure they properly close all access panels and cowls after maintenance operations.

Aircraft inspection

During the aircraft inspection, maintenance personnel should detect any elements that could lead to a PDA such as:

• improperly closed access panels,

• ● improperly latched engine cowls ● paint cracks or corrosion at the root of antennas, ● composite surface delamination, ● missing fasteners.

Role of the Flight Crew

Flight crew should perform a thorough exterior walkaround before each flight, as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and report any finding to the maintenance.

Role of the Ground Handling Team

In the turn around of the aircraft many activities take place around the aircraft, notably servicing and refueling. Adding the variable of time, one might feel the pressure of time due to delays and or other factors, and be prone to forget to close the servicing panels.

As shown in the example mentioned above, such panels that are left unlocked could become PDA and cause damage to the aircraft itself, to the next aircraft departing or even people on ground.

This is why it is crucial that the ground handling team also ensure they remain vigilant by accurately following the procedures to the end, down to closing the panels correctly and clearing the area of any FOD.

Role of the Operatorʼs Engineering Department

Reporting PDA events is key

By reporting all PDA events to Airbus, the engineering department contributes to the identification of areas where a design/procedure/training modification would reduce the risk.

The recurrence of similar PDAs across the whole Airbus aircraft fleet may highlight the need to modify the design of an aircraft component, amend a maintenance procedure or training.

It is essential that airlines report all PDA occurrences to Airbus so that they can benefit from the PDA prevention measures that Airbus may develop.

Standardized PDA reporting sheet

The reporting of PDA is facili tated by the standardized PDA Reporting Sheet available in the Maintenance Documentation (fig.4) and the creation of a generic reporting e-mail address: pda.reporting@airbus.com.

• (fig.4) Extract of a PDA Reporting Sheet

The PDA reporting sheet can be found in:

• A220 Aircraft Maintenance Publication J05-51-00-02 “Process for reporting a part departure from aircraft - Safety items and parts”

• A300, A310 Trouble Shooting Manual (TSM) chapter 05-50-00 “Part Found Missing during Walk Around Inspection or Maintenance Action or Servicing”

• A320 family, A330, A340, A380 Trouble Shooting Manual (TSM) chapter 05-50-00-810 “Part found missing during walk around inspection / maintenance action / servicing”

• A350 MP 05-51-45 “Part Found Missing during Walk Around Inspection/Maintenance Action/Servicing”

Additional information on PDA reporting to Airbus can be found on the AirbusWorld portal:

• ISI 05.50.00003 - How to report to Airbus a part found missing after a flight (PDA)

• OIT 999.0018/17 - ATA 05 - Reporting of Parts Departing from Aircraft (PDA)

Implementation of aircraft enhancements

When an aircraft enhancement is made available by Airbus, the operatorʼs engineering department then plays a role in implementation of the modification on the aircraft and in the maintenance documentation.

Role of the Aircraft Manufacturer

The modification of the aircraft design, the maintenance procedures or training may play a significant part in the reduction of PDAs. In fact, the role of Airbus as an aircraft manufacturer is to:

• Investigate all PDA occurrences

• Develop mitigations, which may range from a simple information or training recommendation to operators up to a maintenance procedure change or design enhancement

• Communicate these solutions to the operators

• Monitor the in-service effectiveness of these solutions

• Report all PDA events to EASA

To fulfil this role, Airbus relies on PDA occurrence reporting by the operators.

Operators can regularly check the list of available solutions (Airbus Service Bulletins Technical Follow-up (TFU) or In-Service-Information (ISI) articles) to prevent PDA events, in the ISI 00.00.00184 “Part Departing From Aircraft (PDA) - Available Solutions To Avoid Pda Events” article available on the AirbusWorld portal.

Contributors:

Benoît AROTCARENA

Propulsion Systems Engineer PW1100G-JM specialist PDA focal point Customer Engineering Support

Initial Contributor: Jérôme REAL

Parts Departing from Aircraft range in size from fan cowls down to a simple nut. However they share a common point: they may all represent a safety risk to the aircraft and its occupants, to people on ground or to following airplanes if they take off or land on a runway where a PDA has fallen.

Prevention is a shared responsibility, requiring permanent vigilance and coordinated effort from all stakeholders. Maintenance personnel must ensure accurate application of procedures and thorough inspections. Flight crew must perform meticulous walkarounds. Ground handling teams must remain vigilant during turnaround activities, especially when operating servicing panels. Lastly, operatorsʼ engineering departments must diligently report all PDA occurrences to Airbus.

Reporting is key, as it enables Airbus, as the aircraft manufacturer, to investigate trends, develop mitigations (from design enhancements to procedure changes), and communicate solutions to the wider fleet, ultimately contributing to continuous safety enhancement.

Safety first, 2026. Safety first is published by Airbus S.A.S. 1, rond point Maurice Bellonte - 31707 Blagnac Cedex/France.

Editor: Yannick Malinge, SVP Aviation Safety.

Editorial team: Guillaume Estragnat, Javier Martinez Marina, Vanessa Sadi, Eliza Pal, Gwyneth Duggan, Agathe Sanz, Bruno Fargeon.

Photos by Airbus.

---

中文译文

来源：Airbus Safety First 网址：https://safetyfirst.airbus.com/parts-departing-from-aircraft-pda/ 发布日期：2014-07-23 类别：地面作业、维修、脱落、面板、PDA、TFOA PDF：原始 PDF

---

本文最初发表于 2014 年 7 月，已于 2026 年 3 月更新。

机身部件脱落（PDA）构成真实安全风险

什么是 PDA？

PDA，也称为“机身脱落物”（TFOA），指从飞机上脱落的任何部件，尺寸从铆钉到风扇整流罩不等。

为什么 PDA 可能构成潜在安全风险？

PDA 可能导致飞机重要部件损坏，和/或造成乘客或地面人员严重或致命伤害。在起飞或着陆期间脱落的部件也可能对后续飞机构成危险，例如该部件落在跑道上被发动机吸入或弹击飞行控制面。

（图 1 和 2） 遗失的饮用水服务面板损坏水平尾翼的案例

PDA 事件为何发生？

在大多数报告的 PDA 事件中，事件发生在维修工作刚刚结束后的那次飞行或随后几次飞行期间，受影响部件在此期间被打开、拆卸、重新安装或修复。

部分报告事件表明，其他与飞机维修无关的因素也可能导致部件从飞机上脱落。

向空客报告的 PDA 类型有哪些？

向空客报告的 PDA 类型有哪些？	向空客报告的 PDA 类型有哪些？
通常报告为丢失或部分丢失的部件包括：
如下项目：
●	大翼前缘/后缘维护面板
●	翼上着陆灯镜片
●	液压勤务面板
●	水勤务面板
●	大翼整流罩面板
●	由于复合材料表面分层而脱落的部件
●	发动机滑油勤务面板

• 发动机整流罩门

• 燃油勤务面板

• 天线

• 轮毂 tie bolt。

空客数据库显示，受影响最多的部件是勤务面板和天线。这些部件操作频繁，应特别关注。

空客数据显示，2025 年报告了超过 200 起 PDA 事件。尽管趋势显示报告的 PDA 事件数量在下降，但目前每飞行 175,000 小时报告一起 PDA 事件。

（图 3） 向空客报告的 PDA 事件数量

有关 PDA 的更多信息，请参阅：

• 维修简报说明 2025-MBN-00-0006-03-”机身部件脱落（PDA）“，可在 AirbusWorld 门户获取

• 2018 年 4 月发布的《防止风扇整流罩门丢失》Safety First 文章。

PDA 的预防

防止 PDA 始于防 PDA 的飞机设计，但也需要飞机运营全体人员保持持续警惕。

维修人员的职责

准确执行程序

机械员可通过准确遵守 AMM/MP/AMP 程序来减少事件发生次数，确保在维修操作后正确关闭所有维护面板和整流罩。

飞机检查

在飞机检查期间，维修人员应发现任何可能导致 PDA 的问题，例如：

• 未正确关闭的维护面板，

• ● 未正确锁定的发动机整流罩 ● 天线底座处的油漆裂纹或腐蚀，● 复合材料表面分层，● 缺失的紧固件。

飞行机组的职责

飞行机组应在每次飞行前按照标准操作程序（SOP）进行彻底的外部绕机检查，并将任何发现报告给维修部门。

地面勤务团队的职责

在飞机过站期间，飞机周围会进行多项活动，特别是勤务和加油。加上时间这一变量，可能会因延误或其他因素感到时间压力，从而容易忘记关闭勤务面板。

如上所述的案例所示，未锁定的此类面板可能成为 PDA，对飞机本身、后续起飞的飞机甚至地面人员造成损害。

因此，地面勤务团队同样必须保持警惕，准确执行程序直至最后，正确关闭面板并清除该区域的任何 FOD 至关重要。

运营商工程部门的作用

报告 PDA 事件是关键

通过向空客报告所有 PDA 事件，工程部门有助于识别可通过设计/程序/培训改进来降低风险的领域。

整个空客机队中类似 PDA 的重复发生可能凸显出修改飞机部件设计、修订维护程序或培训的必要性。

各航空公司必须向空客报告所有 PDA 事件至关重要，这样他们才能从空客可能制定的 PDA 预防措施中受益。

标准化 PDA 报告表

PDA 报告可通过维护文档中的标准化 PDA 报告表来简化 （图 4），并可使用通用报告电子邮件地址：pda.reporting@airbus.com。

• （图 4） PDA 报告表摘录

PDA 报告表可在以下位置找到：

• A220 飞机维护出版物 J05-51-00-02 “报告飞机部件脱落程序 - 安全项目和部件”

• A300、A310 故障排除手册（TSM）第 05-50-00 章 “绕机检查或维护工作/维修期间发现部件丢失”

• A320 系列、A330、A340、A380 故障排除手册（TSM）第 05-50-00-810 章 “绕机检查/维护工作/维修期间发现部件丢失”

• A350 MP 05-51-45 “绕机检查/维护工作/维修期间发现部件丢失”

关于向空客报告 PDA 的更多信息，可在 AirbusWorld 门户上找到：

• ISI 05.50.00003 - 如何在飞行后向空客报告发现部件丢失（PDA）

• OIT 999.0018/17 - ATA 05 - 飞机部件脱落（PDA）报告

飞机改进的实施

当空客提供飞机改进时，运营商的工程部门随后在飞机上实施改装以及维护文档更新方面发挥作用。

飞机制造商的作用

飞机设计、维护程序或培训的修改可能在减少 PDA 方面发挥重要作用。事实上，空客作为飞机制造商的作用是：

• 调查所有 PDA 事件

• 制定缓解措施，范围从简单的信息或对运营商的培训建议，到维护程序变更或设计改进

• 向运营商传达这些解决方案

• 监控这些解决方案的服役有效性

• 向 EASA 报告所有 PDA 事件

为履行这一职责，空客依赖于运营商的 PDA 事件报告。

运营商可定期查看可用的解决方案列表（空客服务通告技术跟进（TFU）或服役信息（ISI）文章），以防止 PDA 事件，请在 AirbusWorld 门户上的 ISI 00.00.00184 “飞机部件脱落（PDA）- 避免 PDA 事件的可用解决方案” 文章中查看。

贡献者：

Benoît AROTCARENA

推进系统工程师 PW1100G-JM 专家 PDA 联络人 客户工程支持

初始贡献者：Jérôme REAL

飞机部件脱落在尺寸上从风扇整流罩到简单的螺母不等。然而它们有一个共同点：都可能对飞机及其乘员、地面人员或后续在部件脱落的跑道上起飞或降落的飞机造成安全风险。

预防是共同的责任，需要所有相关方的持续警惕和协调努力。维护人员必须确保准确执行程序并进行彻底检查。飞行机组必须进行细致的绕机检查。地面处理团队必须在过站期间保持警惕，特别是在操作维修面板时。最后，运营商的工程部门必须向空客认真报告所有 PDA 事件。

报告是关键，因为它使空客作为飞机制造商能够调查趋势、制定缓解措施（从设计改进到程序变更），并向更广泛的机队传达解决方案，最终为持续安全改进做出贡献。

Safety first，2026 年。Safety first 由空中客车公司出版。 地址：1, rond point Maurice Bellonte - 31707 法国布拉尼亚克。

编辑：Yannick Malinge，航空安全高级副总裁。

编辑团队：Guillaume Estragnat、Javier Martinez Marina、Vanessa Sadi、Eliza Pal、Gwyneth Duggan、Agathe Sanz、Bruno Fargeon。

照片由空客提供。