Summary
This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Airbus Model A300 and A300-600 series airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks at the aft spar web of the wings, and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by reports indicating that cracks have been found in the rear spar web of the wings between ribs 1 and 2 of an in-service airplane and during testing on the fatigue test wing; the cracking occurred due to fatigue-related high shear stress. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such fatigue-related cracking, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing.