Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14519 · Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747SR Series Airplanes
Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747SR Series Airplanes
This AD applies to all Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747SR series airplanes, certificated in any category.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747- 300, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747SR series airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection to determine whether any steel doubler (small or large) is installed at the lower forward and upper aft corners of the fuselage cutout at main entry doors (MEDs) number 3. Depending on the results of this inspection, this AD also requires repetitive inspections for cracks of the skin, bearstrap, and small steel doubler (if installed) at the applicable corner or corners of the fuselage cutouts, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides the optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections of installing a large steel doubler at the affected corners. This AD results from reports of cracks in the skin and bearstrap at the upper aft corner and at the lower forward corner of the fuselage cutout at MEDs number 3. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the skin, bearstrap, and small steel doubler (if installed), which could propagate and result in rapid decompression of the airplane.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
The term “service bulletin,” as used in this AD, means the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2512, Revision 1, dated August 11, 2005.
Prior to the accumulation of 10,000 total flight cycles or within 1,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later: Do a general visual inspection of the lower forward and upper aft corners of the fuselage cutout at MEDs number 3 to determine whether a small, a large, or no steel doubler is installed, and do the applicable action in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD. Do all actions in accordance with the service bulletin.
(1) If a large steel doubler is installed, or if no steel doubler is installed at the lower forward corner, no further action is required by this AD for that cutout corner, except the requirements of paragraph (m) of this AD continue to apply.
Note 1: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2512 refers to Boeing Service Bulletin 747-53-2218, Revision 5, dated March 26, 1992, as an additional source of service information for inspecting airplanes that are determined by the inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD to have no steel doubler (large or small) installed at the lower forward corner of the fuselage cutout at MEDs number 3.
(2) For all doubler configurations except those specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, do the actions in paragraph (h) of this AD at the applicable time in that paragraph.
For the doubler configurations specified in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, at the times specified in paragraph 1.E. “Compliance” of the service bulletin (except as required by paragraph (i) of this AD): Do the applicable inspections for cracks in the skin, bearstrap, and small steel doubler (if installed), at the upper aft corner and at the lower forward corner of the fuselage cutout at MEDs number 3, and do all applicable related investigative actions and corrective actions before further flight by doing all the actions in accordance with the service bulletin. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the intervals specified in paragraph 1.E, “Compliance” of the service bulletin. Where the service bulletin specifies to contact the manufacturer for instructions on how to repair certain conditions, do the repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (n) of this AD.
(i) Where the service bulletin specifies compliance times relative to the date of issuance of the service bulletin, this AD requires compliance relative to the effective date of this AD.
Installing a large steel doubler in accordance with the service bulletin terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD for the corner of the fuselage cutout at MEDs number 3 at which the large steel doubler is installed.
Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
Actions done before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2512, dated May 5, 2005, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions of this AD.
After the effective date of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a small steel doubler as a repair for cracks or as a modification at the lower forward corner of the fuselage cutout of MEDs number 3, in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-53-2218.
Note 2: Although AD 92-27-04, amendment 39-8437, has a terminating action of installing a small steel doubler in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-53-2218, that action is not allowed after the effective date of this AD.
