AD NUMBER: 2016-20-11

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: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-12-06 for the aircraft listed above.

AD 2014-12-06 required repetitive ultrasonic or detailed inspections of the external area of the aft cargo door sill beam for cracking, and repair if necessary, and provided an optional one-time high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection that would terminate the repetitive inspections.

This new AD requires the previously optional terminating HFEC inspection, and requires that it be done repetitively.

This AD was prompted by findings of multiple fatigue cracks in the aft cargo door that indicated the need for additional, repetitive, HFEC inspections.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 3, 2017

FMI: AD