Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17510 · Fuselage
The Boeing Company Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2015-13-06. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-400F series airplanes, certificated in any category, line numbers 1097 through 1419 inclusive.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the outboard flange of the longeron extension fittings, which attach to the wing-to-body fairing support frame. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the longeron extension fittings for cracking, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the longeron extension fittings, which can become large and adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.
For all airplanes: Except as required by paragraphs (i)(1) and (i)(4) of this AD, at the time specified in table 1 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, do a surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection of the left and right longeron extension fittings for cracking, and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, except as required by paragraphs (i)(2) and (i)(3) of this AD. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight. If no cracking is found, repeat the inspection thereafter at the intervals specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, until a permanent repair, longeron extension fitting replacement, or preventative modification is done, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012.
For airplanes on which a temporary repair as specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860 has been done: At the times specified in table 2 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, do a surface HFEC inspection of the temporary repair of the longeron extension fittings for cracking, and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, except as required by paragraph (i)(3) of this AD. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, specifies a compliance time relative to the issue date of that service bulletin, this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, specifies to contact Boeing for repair information: Before further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (k) of this AD.
(3) For airplanes not identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, but included in paragraph (c) of this AD: These airplanes are in Group 1 for the purposes of this AD. This AD requires that the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, be accomplished on these airplanes.
(4) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, specifies “all airplanes,” this means all airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this AD.
Doing the permanent repair, longeron extension fitting replacement, or preventative modification, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2860, dated December 4, 2012, terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
