EASA AD US-2023-02-09
Horizontal Stabilizer - Inspection
Summary
Airworthiness Directive 2023-02-09 is a final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) addressing all McDonnell Douglas 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. This directive mandates repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer to detect cracks and requires related investigative and corrective actions to maintain structural integrity. It updates previous requirements to enhance safety on these Boeing aircraft models.
What Changed
AD 2023-02-09 supersedes AD 2007-10-04 by reducing certain compliance times and repetitive inspection intervals for high frequency eddy current inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar upper caps. It clarifies and revises corrective action options for skin panels and spar caps based on Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-55A065, Revision 2. The directive also updates the manufacturer name to The Boeing Company in the regulatory text.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses an unsafe condition involving cracks in the horizontal stabilizer that could compromise the aircraft's structural integrity. Operators and maintenance organizations must adhere to the revised inspection intervals to detect cracks early and perform necessary repairs, thereby preventing potential in-flight failures. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety of the affected McDonnell Douglas/Boeing MD-80 series airplanes.
What To Do
Affected operators must perform repetitive eddy current inspections of the horizontal stabilizer as specified in AD 2023-02-09, following the updated compliance times effective March 20, 2023. If cracks are found, corrective actions such as stop drilling, trimming, skin panel splice repairs, or spar cap repairs/replacements must be completed according to the Boeing service bulletin. Operators should review the AD docket and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin MD80-55A065, Revision 2, for detailed procedures and ensure all actions are documented and completed within the prescribed intervals.
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