Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Industrie Model A300-600 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Industrie Model A300-600 series airplanes, that requires repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks of the outer skin of the fuselage at certain frames, and repair or reinforcement of the structure at the frames, if necessary. This amendment also requires eventual reinforcement of the structure at certain frames, which, when accomplished, terminates the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that fatigue cracks were found in the area of certain frames. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracking, which could reduce the structural integrity of the airframe and result in rapid decompression of the airplane.