AD/B727/203 Mid-Cabin Galley Doorway Upper and Lower Hinge Cutouts (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B727/203 Mid-Cabin Galley Doorway Upper
and Lower Hinge Cutouts 7/2006

Applicability:

Model 727, 727C, 727-100, and 727-100C aircraft.

Requirement:

Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2006-09-03 Amdt 39-14573.

Note:  Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-53A0228 original issue, or later FAA approved revision, refers.

Compliance:

As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of
6 July 2006.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 6 July 2006.

Background:

The FAA received reports of skin and bear strap cracking at the upper and lower hinge cutout and along the upper fastener row of the stringer 14R lap splice, and cracking in the doorstop fitting adjacent to the upper hinge cutout.  There were also reports of cracking on aircraft previously modified in production.  Such fatigue cracking of the fuselage could result in reduced structural integrity and possible rapid decompression of the aircraft.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

23 May 2006