Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 727 series airplanes, that requires repetitive structural inspections of certain aging airplanes, and repair, if necessary. This amendment also provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports of incidents involving fatigue cracking and corrosion in transport category airplanes that are approaching or have exceeded their economic design service goal. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent degradation of the structural capabilities of the affected airplanes. This AD relates to the recommendations of the Airworthiness Assurance Task Force assigned to review Model 727 series airplanes, which indicate that, to assure long term continued operational safety, various structural inspections should be accomplished.