Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330 and A340 Series Airplanes Equipped With BFGoodrich Evacuation Slides and Slide/Rafts

Résumé

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes equipped with certain BFGoodrich evacuation slides and slide/rafts. This action requires an inspection to detect the presence of certain discrepancies of the packboard associated with the evacuation slides and slide/rafts, and replacement or modification of the packboard unit, if necessary. It also requires the eventual modification of all affected packboard units. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that these packboards have disengaged from the door mounting, due to cracking of the packboard and associated latch assembly that was incurred during hard landings. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the packboard from disengaging from the door and restraining the door from fully opening, thereby preventing the evacuation slide from inflating and making both the slide and the door unusable during an emergency evacuation.