Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the spoiler hold-down actuator supports located on the left and right wing rear spars; adjustment of the spoiler hold-down actuators; and replacement of cracked spoiler hold-down actuator supports with new, improved supports. This AD also requires replacement of all spoiler hold-down actuator supports with new, improved supports, which terminates the repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct as well as to prevent cracks in the spoiler hold- down actuator supports, which could lead to reduced spoiler hold-down capability, resulting in loss of the back-up protection of the spoiler float hold-down and unavailability of monitoring for an uncommanded spoiler movement.