Summary
This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes. This proposal would require repetitive detailed visual and ultrasonic inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) to detect fatigue cracks; and repair, if necessary. This proposal also would require replacement of certain nose landing gear (NLG) handwheel controllers with new controllers; replacement of certain placards with new placards; installation of steering angle recording software; corrective action for exceeding certain steering angles; and an AFM revision to limit the nose wheel steering angle for pushback and towing and to limit the nose wheel steering for powered turns. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent MLG failure due to fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced structural capability of the airplane and collapse of the MLG.