Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 727 series airplanes, that requires a one-time detailed visual inspection of the fuselage skin and bonded doubler area above the forward entry doorway to detect fatigue cracking or the existence of certain repairs, and follow-on corrective actions, if necessary. This action also requires a preventive modification or full-sized repair doubler, as applicable. This amendment is prompted by reports of fatigue cracking in the fuselage skin and bonded doublers in the forward and aft corners above the forward entry doorway. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin and bonded doubler, which could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent loss of cabin pressurization.