Summary
This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A310 series airplanes, that would have required repetitive inspections and tests to detect missing or damaged vespel bushes on the slat system universal joint assemblies of the left-and right-hand wings; and replacement of the universal joints with new joints, if necessary. That proposal was prompted by a report of loose and migrated vespel bushes and partial cracking within unsupported bush areas found on the slat system universal joint assemblies. This new action revises the proposed rule by adding an optional terminating modification for the repetitive inspection and test requirements, and by expanding the applicability to include additional airplanes. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent rupture of the universal joints, which could result in inadvertent movement of the slats, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.