Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A310 Series Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the fuselage skin to detect corrosion or fatigue cracking around and under the chafing plates of the wing root; repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking of frame 39, stringer 35; and corrective actions if necessary. The existing AD also provides for an optional terminating action for certain repetitive inspections, except for certain areas where corrosion was detected and reworked. This new AD reduces the intervals for accomplishing repetitive inspections in a certain area. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks and corrosion around and under the chafing plates of the wing root, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.