Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections of a certain bracket that attaches the flight deck instrument panel to the airplane structure; replacement of the bracket with a new, improved bracket; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires replacement of the existing bracket with a titanium-reinforced bracket, which ends the repetitive inspections in the existing AD. This AD also requires related investigative and corrective actions while accomplishing the replacement, and reduces the applicability in the existing AD. This AD results from a report of cracking damage found on certain brackets that were replaced per the requirements in the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent a cracked bracket. Failure of this bracket, combined with failure of the horizontal beam, could result in collapse of the left part of the flight deck instrument panel, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.