Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-10626 · McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 and DC-9- 80 Series Airplanes, Model MD-88 Airplanes, and C-9 (Military) Series Airplanes
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 and DC-9- 80 Series Airplanes, Model MD-88 Airplanes, and C-9 (Military) Series Airplanes
Model DC-9-10, -20, -30, -40, and -50 series airplanes; Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), -82 (MD-82), -83 (MD-83), and -87 (MD-87) series airplanes; Model MD-88 airplanes; and C-9 (military) series airplanes; as listed in McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Service Bulletin 53-235, dated September 15, 1993; certificated in any category.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 and DC-9-80 series airplanes, Model MD-88 airplanes, and C-9 (military) series airplanes, that requires repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections of certain areas of the fuselage to detect cracks of the skin and/or longeron, and various follow-on actions. This amendment also requires installation of a preventative modification, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that, due to material fatigue caused by installation preload and cabin pressurization cycles, fatigue cracks were found in the skin and longerons of the fuselage. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracks, which could result in loss of the structural integrity of the fuselage and, consequently, lead to rapid depressurization of the airplane.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
