# AD 68-20-01: Horizontal Stabilizer Support

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Sabreliner NA-265, NA-265-20, NA-265-30, NA-265-40 and NA-265-60
- Effective: October 28, 1968
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane
- Amendment: 39-658
- Registered aircraft: 16 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/65B560BF7F5CAB11862569BB00546EFA.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-20-01

## The airworthiness directive

68-20-01 NORTH AMERICAN ROCKWELL: Amendment 39-658. Applies to Models NA-265 (serial Nos. 265-1 through 265-88 and 276-1 through 276-55), NA-265-20 (Serial Nos. 270-1 through 270-6), NA-265-30 (Serial Nos. 277-1 through 277-10 and 285-1 through 285-32), NA-265-40 (Serial Nos. 282-1 through 282-95 and 287-1), and NA-265-60 (Serial Nos. 306-1 through 306-17) airplanes.

Compliance required as indicated within the next 100 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

Small cracks have been discovered in the area near the attachment bolt holes of the horizontal stabilizer support fitting. To prevent failure of the horizontal stabilizer support fittings, accomplish the following:

  (a) Inspect the horizontal stabilizer support fittings P/N 265-313459 and 265- 313463-11 for evidence of cracking in accordance with information contained in North American Rockwell Sabreliner Field Service Bulletin No. 68-4, dated January 25, 1968, or later FAA approved revision.

  (b) Cracked horizontal stabilizer support fittings must be removed before further flight, marked conspicuously to avoid inadvertent return to service, and replaced with new or serviceable fittings.

  (c) Check clearance between horizontal stabilizer support fittings P/N 265-313459 or 265-313463-11 and the canted bulkhead at fuselage station 457 and shim as necessary in accordance with information contained in North American Rockwell Sabreliner Field Service Bulletin No. 68-4, dated January 25, 1968, or later FAA approved revision.

This amendment becomes effective on October 28, 1968.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A2WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A2WE): Sabreliner Aviation LLC; names 5 of 8 models: NA-265-40, NA-265-60, NA-265-30, NA-265-20, NA-265

## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs)

Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment.

- Aircraft: 16 (16 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: North American 9, Rockwell International 7

Models with the most aircraft:

- [North American NA-265-40](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-na-265-40): 6 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Rockwell International NA-265-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-na-265-60): 4 aircraft (airframe model)
- [North American NA-265-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-na-265-60): 3 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Rockwell International NA-265](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-na-265): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Rockwell International NA-265-40](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-na-265-40): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 5 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-20-01/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-20-01/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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