AD 62-26-03

62-26-03 LOCKHEED: Amdt. 512 Part 507 Federal Register December 6, 1962. Applies to All Models 49, 149, 649, 649A, 749, 749A, and 1049-54 Series Aircraft Incorporating Main Landing Gear Crossheads, P/N 307866 or P/N 288982 Which Have Accumulated 10,000 or More Hours' Time in Service.

Compliance required as indicated.

To detect fatigue cracking in the 0.25-inch radii adjacent to the one-inch diameter bearing surfaces on main landing gear crossheads, the failure of which would prevent normal extension and retraction of the main landing gear, the following shall be accomplished:

(a) Within the next 700 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished within the last 1,800 hours' time in service prior to the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 hours' time in service from the last inspection, inspect all crossheads as follows:

The crosshead shall be removed from the aircraft and inspected by themagnetic particle method or FAA approved equivalent for cracks in the 0.25-inch radii adjacent to the one-inch diameter bearing surfaces. All cracked crossheads shall be replaced with sound ones before the aircraft is returned to service. Crosshead replacement for 1049-54 aircraft shall be P/N 307866 only. Crosshead replacement for 49, 149, 649, 649A, 749, and 749A aircraft shall be either P/N 307866 or P/N 288982.

(b) 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.

(Lockheed Field Service Letter FS/251565L, dated March 31, 1961, covers this same subject.)

This directive effective January 7, 1963.