AD NUMBER: 2018-01-10

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A330-342 airplanes.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-14-10, which applied to the aircraft listed above.

AD 2011-14-10 required repetitive ultrasonic inspections for cracks of a certain fuselage frame at the fastener hole area just above a certain stringer, and repair, if necessary.

This new AD was prompted by a new fatigue and damage tolerance evaluation, which showed that certain inspection thresholds and intervals need to be shorter.

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 January 29, 2018. Comments on this AD must be received by February 26, 2018.

COST: Currently, there are no affected U.S.-registered airplanes. Should an affected airplane that be placed on the U.S. Register in the future, the FAA estimates the cost of compliance with this AD to be $1,275 per aircraft per inspection cycle.

FMI: AD