Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-16-01 for certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes and Model A340- 200 and -300 series airplanes. AD 2004-16-01 required repetitive inspections for cracking of the chromed area of the left and right piston rods for the main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuators, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires repetitive draining of any fluid from the retraction actuator piston rod internal volume and sealing of the vent hole; repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the upper end of the piston rods, and corrective actions if necessary; a one-time ultrasonic inspection (longitudinal and circumferential) of the full length of the piston rod, and corrective actions if necessary; and a terminating modification of the left-hand and right-hand MLG retraction actuators. This AD was prompted by reports of the piston rods for the MLG retraction actuators rupturing during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the piston rods for the MLG retraction actuators, which could result in rupture of a piston rod, non-damped extension of the MLG, high loads on the fully extended MLG, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the MLG.