AD 62-23-03

62-23-03 DOUGLAS: Amdt. 500 Part 507 Federal Register October 30, 1962. Applies to DC-8 Aircraft Serial Numbers 45252 to 45289 Inclusive, 45291 to 45306 Inclusive, 45376 to 45393 Inclusive, 45408 to 45413 Inclusive, 45416 to 45431 Inclusive, 45433 to 45437 Inclusive, 45442 to 45445 Inclusive, 45526, 45565 to 45570 Inclusive, 45588 to 45606 Inclusive, 45609 to 45614 Inclusive, 45616 to 45629 Inclusive, 45636, and 45638.

Compliance required as indicated.

To prevent failure of the main landing gear actuating cylinder upper attach bracket accomplish the following:

(a) Within 440 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, on attach brackets, P/N's 5641950-1, -2, -501 or -502 having 4,000 or more hours' time in service and, prior to the accumulation of 4,440 hours' time in service on brackets having less than 4,000 hours' time in service, conduct a hardness check on the attach bracket following the procedures described in theaccomplishment instructions, paragraphs B (4), B(5) and C of Douglas Alert Bulletin No. A32-76, Reissue No. 1, Revision No. 1, dated April 5, 1962, or later, or an FAA approved equivalent.

NOTE: To gain access to the bracket it is necessary to remove the hydraulic lines from the rework area, remove swivel glands as applicable, remove the retract cylinder upper bolt and swing the cylinder down out of the way.

(b) Brackets testing within Rockwell C39.0 (175,000 p.s.i.) and C43.0 (200,000 p.s.i.) range are acceptable for further use and may be continued in service provided they are not otherwise defective. These brackets shall be identified by applying a 1/4 to 1/2-inch stripe of Cat-A-Lac, yellow No. 443-3-129 enamel or equivalent on the bracket. The identification stripe should be located in a place on the bracket so that it is clearly visible without having to remove the retract cylinder to observe the stripe.

(c) Brackets testing outside the C39.0 to C43.0 heat-treatrange shall be inspected for cracks in the area of the junction of the grease fitting hole and the actuating cylinder attach hole using a dye penetrant or equivalent inspection method. The bushing, Douglas P/N 2641952 must be removed to conduct this inspection.

(1) Any of these brackets found to be free of cracks during inspection, and not otherwise defective, may be continued in service provided the inspection is repeated at intervals not exceeding 350 hours' time in service thereafter.

(2) Replace cracked parts prior to further flight with an appropriate part (Douglas P/N 5641950-1 or -2, 5641950-501 or -502) falling within the C39.0 to C43.0 heat-treat limits and marked with the yellow stripe for identification, with new P/N's 5774066-501 or -502, or with an FAA approved equivalent.

(d) Upon request of the operator, an FAA maintenance inspector, subject to prior approval of the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA Western Region, may adjust the repetitive inspection intervals specified in this AD to permit compliance at an established inspection period of the operator if the request contains substantiating data to justify the increase for such operator.

(Douglas Alert Service Bulletin No. A32-76, Reissue No. 1, Revision No. 1, dated April 5, 1962.)

This directive effective November 29, 1962.