AD NUMBER: 2018-03-08

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 airplanes; and Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-19-28, which applied to the aircraft listed above.

AD 2005-19-28 required repetitive inspections for cracks in the aft face of the rear spar at the area adjacent to the bolt holes and the end of the build slot, and repair if necessary. AD 2005-19-28 also provided an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

This new AD was prompted by the results of a new fatigue and damage tolerance assessment, which determined that several compliance thresholds and intervals needed to be reduced.

This AD requires contacting the FAA to obtain instructions for addressing the unsafe condition on these products, and doing the actions specified in those instructions.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 22, 2018. Comments must be received by March 26, 2018.

COST:  There are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. The FAA estimates that for an affected airplane that is placed on the U.S. Register in the future, the cost of compliance would be as follows:

• $340 per aircraft per inspection cycle for HFEC inspection [retained action from AD 2005-19-28 with reduced threshold and intervals]
• $13,005 per aircraft for parts and labor for modifications.
• $7,225 per aircraft for on-condition repairs, excluding parts.

FMI: AD