Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300 Airplanes, Equipped With General Electric CF6-50 Series Engines

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 airplanes. This AD requires modifying the airplane and the engine/nacelle to install a third line of defense against inadvertent deployment of the thrust reverser in flight. This AD also requires two other actions that must be accomplished before or concurrently with the modification: installing a structural change in the fan cowl to avoid interference; and installing a dedicated, shielded electrical circuit. This AD results from a report that the manufacturer has developed a third line of defense against the inadvertent deployment of the thrust reverser of Model A300 airplanes that are equipped with General Electric CF6-50 series engines (in accordance with FAA guidelines). We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent deployment of the thrust reverser in flight, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.