Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, and 727-100C Series Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, and 727-100C series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the body skin and bear strap at the upper and lower hinge cutouts of the mid-cabin galley doorway, along the upper fastener row of the stringer 14R lap splice, and in the doorstop fitting adjacent to the upper hinge cutout; and corrective action if necessary. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for certain inspections. This AD results from reports of skin and bear strap cracking at the upper and lower hinge cutout and along the upper fastener row of the stringer 14R lap splice, and cracking in the doorstop fitting adjacent to the upper hinge cutout. There are also reports of cracking on airplanes previously modified in production to resist such cracking. We are issuing this AD to find and fix fatigue cracking of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.