74-18-09 BOEING: Amendment 39-1947. Applies to all Model 727 Series Airplanes, certificated in all categories. \n\n\tCompliance required as indicated unless already accomplished. \n\tTo prevent failure of the nose and main landing gear actuator aluminum feeder tubes which could prevent complete extension of the landing gear and the possible loss of aircraft control during landing roll, inspect or replace, as necessary, the nose landing gear actuator aluminum feeder tube P/N 69-14198-1, and each main landing gear actuator aluminum feeder tube P/N 65- 17971-1, in accordance with the following: \n\tPART I - COMPLIANCE TIME DETERMINATION \n\tA.\tApplies to all main landing gear actuator assemblies listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 having a P/N 65-17971-1 aluminum feeder tube which have not been overhauled or disassembled since new. \n\t\tInspect or replace, as applicable, in accordance with PART II (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this AD before a total of 12,000 landings, or within the next 3,000 landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever comes last. \n\tB.\tApplies to all main landing gear actuator assemblies listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 having a P/N 65-17971-1 aluminum feeder tube which have been overhauled or disassembled. Inspect or replace, as applicable, in accordance with PART II (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this AD within the number of landings specified in the following schedule: \n\n\tOVERHAULED UNITS \n\tFor Actuators with up to 20,000 landings total \n\tWithin next 2,500 landings from effective date of this AD; \n\tFor Actuators above 20,000 and 23,000 landings total \n\tWithin next 2,000 landings from effective date of AD, or a total of 24,500 \n\tlandings, whichever comes first; \n\tFor Actuators above 23,000 landings total \n\tWithin next 1,500 landings from effective date of AD. \n\n\t\tC.\tApplies to all nose landing gear actuator assemblies listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 having a P/N 69-14198-1 aluminum feeder tube. \n\t\tInspect or replace, as applicable, in accordance with PART II (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this AD within the number of landings listed in the following schedule: \n\nTotal No. of Landings on Nose\t Compliance Required Within Landing Gear Actuator\t Next No. of Landings after Feeder Tubes \tEffective date of AD\t 0 - 8,000\t 14,000 8,000 - 14,000\t 8,000 14,000 - 18,000\t\t\t\t 5,000 More than 18,000\t 4,000D.\tApplies to nose landing gear actuator assemblies with aluminum feeder tubes, P/N 69-14198-1, and main landing gear actuators with aluminum feeder tubes, P/N 65-17971-1, which have been inspected or replaced in accordance with PART II (A) or (B) of this AD, as applicable. \n\t\t(1)\tInspect nose landing gear and main landing gear actuator feeder tubes at periodic intervals not to exceed 1,000 landings, in accordance with PART II (A) of this AD; or \n\t\t(2)\tReplace nose landing gear and main landing gear actuator feeder tubes within 1,000 landings in accordance with PART II (B), (C), or (D) of this AD.\n \tE.\tApplies to nose landing gear actuator assemblies with new aluminum feeder tubes, P/N 69-14198-1, and main landing gear actuators with new aluminum feeder tubes, P/N 65- 17971-1, which were installed in accordance with the installation instructions contained in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 (issued on March 15, 1974): \n\t\t(1)\tInspect or replace main landing gear actuator feedertubes within a total of 14,000 landings in accordance with PART II (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this AD; and \n\t\t(2)\tInspect or replace nose landing gear actuator feeder tubes within a total of 18,000 landings, in accordance with PART II (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this AD. \n\tF.\tFor the purpose of complying with this AD, the total number of landings on an actuator (feeder tube) may be determined by actual count or, subject to approval by the assigned FAA maintenance inspector, by dividing the airplane time in service on which the actuator is installed by the operator's fleet average time per flight. \n\tFor those operators who are unable to determine actuator landings since new, total aircraft landings on which they are installed may be used to determine total number of landings. \n\n\tPART II - COMPLIANCE METHODS \n\n\t(A)\tInspect for evidence of cracks in the area of the "O" ring groove and the areas around the multiple orifice holes in the necked down portions of the nose and main landing actuator feeder tube in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 (issued on March 15, 1974) or later FAA approved revisions, or by an equivalent inspection method approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Flight Standards Division, FAA, Northwest Region, and then comply with PART I-D. If evidence of cracking is found, replace feeder tube in accordance with PART II (B), (C), or (D) of this AD; or \n\t(B)\tReplace the aluminum feeder tube, P/N 69-14198-1 (nose gear) and P/N 65-17971-1 (main gear) with a serviceable used aluminum feeder tube, as determined per PART II (A) of this AD, of the same part number in accordance with such Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 or equivalent method and then comply with PART I-D of this AD as applicable; or \n\t(C)\tReplace the aluminum feeder tube, P/N 69-14198-1 (nose gear) and P/N 65-17971-1 (main gear) with a new aluminum feeder tube of the same part number in accordance with such Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32-218 or equivalent method and then comply with PART I-E of this AD as applicable; or \n\t(D)\tAs terminating action for this AD, replace the aluminum feeder tubes, P/N 69-14198- 1 (nose gear), and P/N 65-17971-1 (main gear) with steel feeder tubes, P/N 69-14198-2 (nose gear) and P/N 65-17971-2 (main gear) in accordance with such Boeing Service Bulletin 727-32- 218 or equivalent method. \n\tThe manufacturer's specifications and procedures identified and described in this directive are incorporated herein and made a part hereof pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1). \n\tAll persons affected by this directive who have not already received these documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, P. O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124. The documents may be examined at FAA Northwest Region, 9010 East Marginal Way, Seattle, Washington.\n \n\tThis amendment becomes effective 30 days after publication in Federal Register.