# AD 85-03-08 R1: Fuselage Skin Inspection - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Boeing DC-9-11, DC-9-12, DC-9-13, DC-9-14, DC-9-15, DC-9-15F, DC-9-21, DC-9-31, DC-9-32, DC-9-32 (VC-9C), DC-9-32F, DC-9-32F (C-9A) and 10 more - Effective: April 15, 1985 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane - Amendment: 39-5025 - Registered aircraft: 99 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/468978D281340323862569F2006B1122.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-03-08-R1 ## The airworthiness directive 85-03-08 R1 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS: Amendment 39-4994 as amended by Amendment 39-5025. Applies to McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 and C-9 (Military) series airplanes, certificated in all categories. Compliance required as indicated unless previously accomplished. To detect cracks in the fuselage skin adjacent to or under the lower forward VHF antenna, accomplish the following: A. For airplanes with 2,000 or more landings, inspect for cracks in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Telex Alert Service Bulletin A53-188, dated January 9, 1985, or later revisions approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, within the next 150 landings after the effective date of this airworthiness directive (AD). NOTE: McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin A53-188, dated January 9, 1985 (or later revisions approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region), is hereinafter referred to as ASBA53-188. 1. If cracks are found in the fuselage skin, inspect the antenna support intercostal for cracks before further flight, and repair in accordance with ASB A53-188. Reinspect the area around the repair in accordance with ASB A53-188, at intervals not to exceed 1500 landings after accomplishment of the repair. 2. If no cracks are found and the VHF antenna was not removed, reinspect in accordance with ASB A53-188, at intervals not to exceed 250 landings after the accomplishment of the last inspection. 3. If no cracks are found and the VHF antenna was removed, reinspect in accordance with ASB A53-188, at intervals not to exceed 1,000 landings after the accomplishment of the last inspection. NOTE: McDonnell Douglas is developing a preventive repair or crack preventive modification, which, when approved, will provide terminating action for this AD. The AD will be amended accordingly. B. Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197and 21.199 to operate airplanes to a base for accomplishment of the inspections and repairs required by this AD. The aircraft must be operated without cabin pressurization and a placard installed in the cockpit, in full view of the pilots, stating: "OPERATION WITH CABIN PRESSURIZATION IS PROHIBITED." C. Alternative inspections, modifications, or other actions which provide an acceptable level of safety may be used when approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region. D. Upon request of an operator, an FAA Maintenance Inspector, subject to prior approval of the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain 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 that operator. All persons affected by this directive who havenot already received these documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to McDonnell Douglas Corporation, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Director, Publications and Training, C1-750 (54-60). These documents also may be examined at the FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, 17900 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Washington, or the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 4344 Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach, California. Amendment 39-4994 became effective February 1, 1985. This Amendment 39-5025 becomes effective April 15, 1985. ## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A6WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A6WE): The Boeing Company; names 19 of 25 models: DC-9-12, DC-9-15F, DC-9-41, DC-9-13, DC-9-34F, DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-33F, DC-9-83 (MD-83)… ## 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: 99 (99 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Mcdonnell Douglas 93, Douglas 6 Models with the most aircraft: - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83(MD-83)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-83-md-83): 49 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82): 22 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-87](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-87): 13 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-15F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-15f): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-33F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-33f): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9-83](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-83): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC9-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc9-15): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9-15F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-15f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-21): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9-32F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-32f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-32): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-32f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9-33F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-33f): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-87 (MD-87)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-87-md-87): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 14 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-03-08-R1/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/85-03-08-R1/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.