Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727 Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks of the body skin, doubler, and bear strap at the forward edge of the upper and lower hinge cutouts of the forward entry door, related investigative actions, and corrective action if necessary. This AD also requires a preventive modification. This AD results from reports of skin and bear strap cracks at hinge cutouts of the forward entry door. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the skin, doubler, and bear strap at the hinge cutouts of the forward entry door, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.