84-13-02 McDONNELL DOUGLAS: Amendment 39-4881. Applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-11, through -61 series airplanes, certificated in all categories, having accumulated 30,000 flight hours or 14,000 landings. Compliance required as indicated unless previously accomplished. \n\n\tTo prevent failure of the wing front spar lower cap, accomplish the following: \n\n\tA.\tWithin 300 flight hours or upon the accumulation of either 30,000 flight hours or 14,000 landings, whichever occurs later, after the effective date of this AD perform the initial inspection in accordance with paragraph 1.C in McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Service Bulletin 57-89, Revision 2, dated July 27, 1983, or later revision approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region. \n\n\tB.\tIf no cracks are found, repeat the inspection of paragraph A., above, at intervals not to exceed 3,600 flight hours until the modification described in paragraph C., below, is accomplished.C.\tThe repetitive inspection requirement of paragraph B., above, may be discontinued for aircraft modified (enlarge and stress-coin attachment holes and install angles) in accordance with McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Service Bulletin 57-89, Revision 2. \n\n\tD.\tIf cracks are found, repair in accordance with McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Service Bulletin 57-89 under Conditions II through VI. \n\n\tE.\tAlternate means of compliance which provide an equivalent level of safety may be used when approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region. \n\n\tF.\tSpecial flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate airplanes to a base in order to comply with the requirements of this AD. \n\n\tG.\tReport the results of the initial inspections required by paragraph A., above, to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region. Include in the reporting information the date and condition of the structure or repair per McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Service Bulletin 57-89, McDonnell Douglas factory serial number, fuselage number, registration number, and accumulated number of flight hours and landings. \n\n\tH.\tFor purposes of complying with this AD, subject to acceptance by the assigned FAA Maintenance Inspector, the number of landings may be determined by dividing each airplane's time in service by the operator's fleet average from takeoff to landing for the airplane type. \n\n\tAll persons affected by this directive who have not already received these documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to McDonnell Douglas Corporation, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Director, Publications and Training, C1-750 (54-60). These documents also may be examined at the FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, 17900 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Washington, or the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 4344 Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach, California.This amendment becomes effective June 27, 1984.