Wings - Centre Wing Lower Skin - Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2016-07-28
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must perform repetitive eddy current high frequency and low frequency inspections of the center wing lower skin, adjacent stringers, fastener holes, and skins as specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-57A244, Revision 1. Any detected cracks must be repaired according to the service bulletin instructions. Compliance with this AD is mandatory by June 26, 2020, the effective date of the directive.
Summary
Airworthiness Directive 2020-10-10 is a final rule issued by the FAA addressing The Boeing Company Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. It mandates inspections of the center wing lower skin and adjacent stringers to detect cracks that could compromise structural integrity. This directive updates and expands previous inspection requirements to enhance crack detection in critical wing areas.
What changed
This directive supersedes AD 2016-07-28 by continuing repetitive eddy current high frequency inspections and expanding the inspection area to include adjacent stringers with similar stress levels. It introduces repetitive eddy current low frequency inspections of fastener holes and forward and aft skins at specified locations with increased sensitivity for crack detection. The changes respond to a newly reported crack at stringer S-13, which was not covered by the previous AD.
Why it matters
This AD is crucial for aviation professionals as it addresses potential structural failures due to undetected cracks in the center wing lower skin and associated components. Operators and maintenance teams must enhance inspection protocols to ensure early crack detection and timely repairs, thereby maintaining aircraft safety and compliance with FAA regulations. Failure to comply could lead to increased risk of wing structural failure.
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