airworthiness · Rule · Final rule. · Published 2012-03-05 · Effective 2012-04-09 · 77 FR 12989
Document
Document number
2012-4498
Federal Register citation
77 FR 12989
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
airworthiness
Manufacturer
Airbus
Publication date
2012-03-05
Effective date
2012-04-09
FAA docket
Docket No. FAA-2011-0997
Abstract
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200 series airplanes; Model A330-300 series airplanes; Model A340-200 series airplanes; and Model A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that three failures of the retraction bracket occurred during fatigue testing before the calculated life limit of the main landing gear (MLG). This AD requires repetitive replacement of the affected retraction bracket of the MLG. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the retraction bracket, which could result in a MLG extension with no damping, and consequent structural damage of the MLG.