AD 2011-18-23 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

This AD applies to all The Boeing Company Model DC-8-11, DC-8-12, DC-8-21, DC-8-31, DC-8-32, DC-8-33, DC-8-41, DC-8-42, DC-8-43, DC-8-51, DC-8-52, DC-8-53, DC-8-55, DC-8F-54, DC-8F-55, DC-8-61, DC-8-62, DC-8-63, DC-8-61F, DC-8-62F, DC-8-63F, DC-8-71, DC-8-72, DC-8-73, DC-8-71F, DC-8-72F, and DC-8-73F airplanes, certificated in any category.

You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Inspection (g) Before the accumulation of 20,000 total flight cycles, or within 3,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) or low frequency eddy current (LFEC) inspection for cracks on the area around certain fasteners of the access opening doubler on the left and right wing center spar lower cap, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010. If no crack is found, repeat the inspection thereafter at the applicable interval specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010. Repair (h) If any crack is found during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD, do the actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), and (h)(3) of this AD. (1) Before further flight, repair the crack in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010. (2) Within 6,000 flight cycles after doing the most recent HFEC inspection, or within 1,750 flight cycles after doing the most recent LFEC inspection; as applicable; do the inspection specified in paragraph (g) of this AD of the non-repaired area, and repeat the inspection of the non-repaired area thereafter at the applicable time in paragraph 1.E. “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010. (3) Within the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E. “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010, do the inspections of the repaired area, using the inspection defined in Method 101 of Section 57-10-06, “Lower Center Space Cap Flanges (FWD & AFT) from STA Xrs = 100 to 290,” or Methods 101 and 104 of Section 57-10-16, “Lower Center Space Cap Flanges (FWD & AFT) from STA Xrs = 100 to 290,” of the McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Supplemental Inspection Document (SID), Report L26-011, Volume II, Revision 8, dated January 2005, as applicable. Repeat the inspection thereafter at the applicable intervals specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010. If any crack is found, before further flight, repair the crack using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD. (i) The inspections required by paragraph (h)(3) of this AD constitute compliance with paragraph (j) of AD 2008-25-05 for the repaired area. All requirements of AD 2008-25-05 that are not specifically referenced in this paragraph remain fully applicable and require compliance. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (j)(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in the Related Information section of this AD. (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD. (3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used for any repair required by this AD if it is approved by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) that has been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles ACO to make those findings. For a repair method to be approved, the repair must meet the certification basis of the airplane and 14 CFR 25.571, Amendment 45, and the approval must specifically refer to this AD. Related Information (k) For more information about this AD, contact Dara Albouyeh, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120L, FAA, Los Angeles ACO, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712-4137; phone: (562) 627-5222; fax: (562) 627-5210; e-mail: dara.albouyeh@faa.gov. Material Incorporated by Reference (l) You must use Boeing Alert Service Bulletin DC8-57A103, dated May 5, 2010; and McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Supplemental Inspection Document (SID), Report L26-011, Volume II, Revision 8, dated January 2005; as applicable; to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The current revision of the McDonnell Douglas DC-8 SID, Report L26-011, Volume II, Revision 8, dated January 2005, is specified on only the title page and List of Effective Pages of the document; the cover page of this document does not specify a revision of date. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services Management, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800-0019, Long Beach, California 90846-0001; telephone 206-544-5000, extension 2; fax 206-766-5683; e-mail dse.boecom@boeing.com; Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. (4) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 25, 2011. Ali Bahrami, Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2011-23709 Filed 9-19-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by reports that cracks in the center spar lower cap and, in some cases, the web of the spar, have been found at stations Xrs = 168.00, Xrs = 251.00, and Xrs = 358.00. The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the area around certain fasteners of the access opening doubler on the left and right wing center spar lower cap, which could compromise the structural integrity of the wing structure.