Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 Airplanes; and Model A340-200 and A340-300 Series Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 airplanes; and Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks of the inboard lower flange and radius of the left- and right-hand outboard floor beams at frame (FR) 48, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports that cracks were found during fatigue tests at the attachment between the canted lower flange of the floor beam and the pressure diaphragm in front of FR48 on both left- and right-hand floor beams; and that an additional crack was found in the flange radius of the floor beam. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could propagate and result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.