AD NUMBER: 2017-24-09

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4- 605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Airbus Model A310 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-20-11, which applied to the aircraft listed above.

AD 2016-20-11 required repetitive inspections of the external area of the aft cargo door sill beam for cracking, repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking of the cargo door sill beam, lock fitting, and torsion box plate, and repair if necessary.

This new AD retains the inspections for cracking, and repair if necessary; and requires reinforcement of the aft cargo door sill beam area. This AD was prompted by the development of a reinforcement modification of the aft cargo door sill beam area, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

COST: The FAA estimates that this AD affects 75 airplanes of U.S. registry. The cost of compliance is estimated to be $1,020 per inspection cycle per aircraft retained under the previous AD; Up to $102,670 per aircraft for parts and labor for modifications required under the new AD, and; $85 per inspection cycle per aircraft for reporting retained under the previous AD.

DATES: This AD is effective January 5, 2018.

FMI: AD