AD T98-26-51

Telegraphic AD

T98-26-51 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS: TELEGRAPHIC AD ISSUED ON DECEMBER 18, 1998. DOCKET NO. 98-NM-379.\t\n\n\tAPPLICABILITY: MODEL DC-8 SERIES AIRPLANES THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED FROM A PASSENGER-CARRYING TO A CARGO-CARRYING ("FREIGHTER") CONFIGURATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC) SA1802SO.\n\n\tNOTE 1: THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD APPLIES TO EACH AIRPLANE IDENTIFIED IN THE PRECEDING APPLICABILITY PROVISION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT HAS BEEN OTHERWISE MODIFIED, ALTERED, OR REPAIRED IN THE AREA SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD. FOR AIRPLANES THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED, ALTERED, OR REPAIRED SO THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD IS AFFECTED, THE OWNER/OPERATOR MUST REQUEST APPROVAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (E) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD. THE REQUEST SHOULD INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF THE MODIFICATION, ALTERATION, OR REPAIR ON THE UNSAFE CONDITION ADDRESSED BY THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD; AND, IF THE UNSAFE CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED, THE REQUEST SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIFIC PROPOSED ACTIONS TO ADDRESS IT. \n\n\tCOMPLIANCE: REQUIRED AS INDICATED, UNLESS ACCOMPLISHED PREVIOUSLY.\n\n\tTO DETECT AND CORRECT FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN CABIN DECOMPRESSION OF THE AIRPLANE AND LOSS OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR, AND CONSEQUENT REDUCED CONTROLLABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE, ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING:\n\n\t(A) WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, REVISE THE LIMITATIONS SECTION OF THE FAA-APPROVED AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. THIS MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSERTING A COPY OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD INTO THE AFM.\n\n\t"IF ANY UNEXPECTED LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE OCCURS, DO NOT INCREASE CABIN PRESSURE. IMMEDIATELY SELECT A HIGHER CABIN ALTITUDE AND, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, DESCEND TO A LOWER FLIGHT ALTITUDE."\n\n\t(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY PARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTERRECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD: PERFORM AN INTERNAL DETAILED VISUAL INSPECTION TO DETECT CRACKING OR ANY DISCREPANCY OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE LATCH FITTINGS. INSPECT FOR CRACKING OR ANY DISCREPANCY OF THE SKIN IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE FASTENER HEADS, AND LOOSE OR MISSING FASTENERS. IN ADDITION, PRIOR TO THE INTERNAL DETAILED VISUAL INSPECTION, CLEAN AND DEGREASE THE INSIDE STRUCTURE WHERE THE LATCH FITTING BOLTS ATTACH TO THE FRAMES, AND PERFORM A DETAILED VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FRAMES TO DETECT CRACKING EMANATING FROM THE BOLT HOLES AND AT THE BEND RADIUS OF THE FRAMES.\n\n\tNOTE 2: REMOVAL OF THE INNER SKIN OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR IS NOT NECESSARY TO GAIN ACCESS AND INSPECT FOR CRACKING EMANATING FROM THE BOLT HOLES AND AT THE BEND RADIUS OF THE FRAMES.\n\n\t(C) PRIOR TO ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE INSPECTION REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, NOTIFY AN APPROPRIATE FAA PRINCIPAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR OF THE DATE AND TIME THE INSPECTION REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.\n\n\t(D) FOR AIRPLANES ON WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CABIN PRESSURIZATION ANOMALIES OR ILLUMINATIONS OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR WARNING LIGHT WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD OR WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD: PERFORM THE INSPECTION REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD PRIOR TO FURTHER FLIGHT.\n\n\t(E) IF ANY DISCREPANCY IS DETECTED DURING THE INSPECTION REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, PRIOR TO FURTHER FLIGHT, REPAIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH A METHOD APPROVED BY THE MANAGER, ATLANTA AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION OFFICE (ACO), FAA, SMALL AIRPLANE DIRECTORATE.\n\n\t(F) WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE INSPECTIONS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, OR WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, WHICHEVER OCCURS LATER, SUBMIT A REPORT OF THE INSPECTION RESULTS (BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FINDINGS) TO THE MANAGER, ATLANTA ACO, FAA, SMALL AIRPLANE DIRECTORATE, ONE CROWN CENTER, 1895 PHOENIX BOULEVARD, SUITE 450, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30349; FAX (770) 703-6097. INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS REGULATION HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 ET SEQ.) AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED OMB CONTROL NUMBER 2120-0056.\n\n\t(G) AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF COMPLIANCE OR ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPLIANCE TIME THAT PROVIDES AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SAFETY MAY BE USED IF APPROVED BY THE MANAGER, ATLANTA ACO. OPERATORS SHALL SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE FAA PRINCIPAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR, WHO MAY ADD COMMENTS AND THEN SEND IT TO THE MANAGER, ATLANTA ACO.\n\n\tNOTE 3: INFORMATION CONCERNING THE EXISTENCE OF APPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD, IF ANY, MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATLANTA ACO.\n\n\t(H) SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMITS MAY BE ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS 21.197 AND 21.199 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS (14 CFR 21.197 AND 21.199) TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE TO A LOCATION WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. \n\n\t(I) TELEGRAPHIC AD T98-26-51, ISSUED ON DECEMBER 18, 1998, BECOMES EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT.\n\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: \nRANY AZZI, AEROSPACE ENGINEER, AIRFRAME AND PROPULSION BRANCH, ACE-117A, FAA, SMALL AIRPLANE DIRECTORATE, ATLANTA AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION OFFICE, ONE CROWN CENTER, 1895 PHOENIX BOULEVARD, SUITE 450, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30337-2748; TELEPHONE (770) 703-6080; FAX (770) 703-6097.

DATE: December 18, 1998\n\tT98-26-51\n\n\tTRANSMITTED AS FOLLOWS IS TELEGRAPHIC AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE T98-26-51 FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO ALL OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MODEL DC-8 SERIES AIRPLANES MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC) SA1802SO.\n\n\tTHE FAA HAS RECEIVED A REPORT INDICATING THAT A CABIN PRESSURIZATION ANOMALY WAS DETECTED ON A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-8 SERIES AIRPLANE MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC) SA1802SO. INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR. PROPAGATION OF CRACKS ON THE FRAMES AND INNER SKIN OF THE LATCH FITTING SUPPORTS COULD LEAD TO SEVERED FRAMES AND INNER SKIN AT THE LATCH FITTING SUPPORTS OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR. THIS CONDITION, IF NOT CORRECTED, COULD RESULT IN CABIN DECOMPRESSION OF THE AIRPLANE AND LOSS OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR, AND CONSEQUENT REDUCED CONTROLLABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE.\n\n\tSINCE AN UNSAFE CONDITION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT IS LIKELY TO EXIST OR DEVELOP ON OTHER AIRPLANES OF THIS SAME TYPE DESIGN, THIS TELEGRAPHIC AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE IS ISSUED TO REQUIRE A REVISION TO THE FAA-APPROVED AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL TO SPECIFY RESTRICTIONS ON OPERATING IF ANY PRESSURIZATION ANOMALY IS DETECTED. THIS TELEGRAPHIC AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ALSO REQUIRES A ONE-TIME DETAILED VISUAL INSPECTION TO DETECT DISCREPANCIES AND CRACKING OF THE MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE LATCH FITTINGS.\n\n\tTHIS TELEGRAPHIC AD IS CONSIDERED TO BE INTERIM ACTION UNTIL FINAL ACTION IS IDENTIFIED, AT WHICH TIME THE FAA MAY CONSIDER FURTHER RULEMAKING. \n\n\tSINCE A SITUATION EXISTS THAT REQUIRES THE IMMEDIATE ADOPTION OF THIS REGULATION, IT IS FOUND THAT NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENT HEREON ARE IMPRACTICABLE, AND THAT GOOD CAUSE EXISTS FOR MAKING THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD EFFECTIVE IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.\n\n\tTHIS RULE IS ISSUED UNDER 49 U.S.C. SECTION 44701 (FORMERLY SECTION 601OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ACT OF 1958) PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO ME BY THE ADMINISTRATOR, AND IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAPHIC AD.