Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 Series Airplanes, Excluding Model A300-600 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes, that requires measurements of the thickness of the inner skin of the longitudinal lap joint from the inside of the fuselage at certain stringers. This amendment also requires inspections to detect stress corrosion cracking in the subject area, and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports of stress corrosion cracking found in the skin at the longitudinal lap joint at certain stringers of the fuselage, which was caused by the increased stress level in the subject area when it was reworked beyond certain limits. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such stress corrosion cracking which, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.