Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 727-200 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks in certain areas between the upper and lower sills of the number 1 cargo door, and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that fatigue cracks were found in certain structures adjacent to the number 1 cargo door cutout at the forward and aft doorway frames. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct such fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the fuselage and consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.