AD NUMBER: 2018-17-10

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600R series airplanes, Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes, and Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-15-17, which applied to the airplanes listed above.

AD 2017-15-17 required an inspection of the lower area of a certain frame (FR) radius for cracking, and corrective action if necessary. This AD requires new repetitive inspections of the forward fitting lower radius of a certain frame for cracking, and corrective actions if necessary.

This AD was prompted by a determination that repetitive inspections and applicable corrective actions are necessary.

DATES: This AD is effective September 24, 2018.

COST: The FAA estimates that  this AD affects 94 airplanes of U.S. registry.

• The actions required by AD 2017-15-17, and retained in this AD, take about 4 work-hours per product, at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the actions that are required by AD 2017-15-17 is $340 per product.
• The FAA also estimates that it takes about 4 work-hours per product to comply with the new requirements of this AD, including 1 work-hour per product for reporting. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $425 per product.
• The agency has received no definitive data that enables it to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

FMI: AD