Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 727 airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive visual inspections for cracking of the forward entry doorway forward frame and repair if necessary. That AD also provides an optional modification that constitutes terminating action. This new AD requires adding new post-repair and post- modification inspections for previously repaired or modified airplanes, mandating the optional modification, and adding airplanes to the applicability of the AD. This AD results from reports of cracking of the forward entry doorway forward frame of airplanes previously modified. We are issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the forward entry doorway due to cracking of the frame at Body Station 303.9, and consequent cracking of the fuselage skin and rapid decompression of the airplane.