Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-13-14, for certain Airbus Model A320-211, -212, and -231 airplanes. AD 98-13- 14 currently requires repetitive rotating probe inspections of fastener holes and/or the adjacent tooling hole of a former junction of the aft fuselage, as applicable, and corrective action, if necessary. AD 98-13- 14 also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 98-13-14, an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicates that the former junction of the aft fuselage is subject to fatigue damage. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 98-13-14, with revised inspection compliance times. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the former junction of the aft fuselage; fatigue cracking could propagate and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.