Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed visual and ultrasonic inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) to detect fatigue cracks, and repair if necessary; replacement of certain nose landing gear (NLG) handwheel controllers and certain placards with new placards; installation of steering angle recording software; and corrective action for exceeding certain steering angles. This AD also requires an AFM revision to limit the nose wheel steering angle for pushback and towing and to limit the nose wheel steering for powered turns. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent MLG failure due to fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced structural capability of the airplane and collapse of the MLG.