Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A330-300 airplanes. That AD currently requires reinforcement of the structure of the center fuselage by installing external stiffeners (butt straps) at frame (FR) 53.3 on the fuselage skin between left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) stringer (STR) 13, and related investigative and corrective actions. This new AD requires additional reinforcement of the structure of the center fuselage by installing external stiffeners (butt straps) at frame FR53.3 on the fuselage skin between LH and RH STR13, and related investigative and other specified actions. This AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD results from cracking found at the circumferential joint of FR53.3. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.