AD 87-04-07

87-04-07 BOEING: Amendment 39-5531. Applies to all Model 747 series airplanes equipped with escape slides, certificated in any category. The applicability of each requirement is listed in the following paragraphs. Compliance required as indicated in the body of the AD.

To detect installation errors and provide satisfactory reliability of the evacuation system, accomplish the following, unless already accomplished:

A. For all Model 747 airplane doors equipped with escape slides, within nine months after the effective date of this AD or within 30 months after the date of initial delivery from Boeing, whichever occurs later, inspect the evacuation system in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 747-SL-52-35, Revision A, dated December 16, 1986, or later FAA-approved revisions, or FAA-approved equivalent, except as noted in subparagraphs A.1., A.2., and A.3., below.

1. For airplanes equipped with Air Cruisers slide/rafts installed in accordance with STC SA1215EA, thefollowing changes must be made to the inspections:

a. Paragraph 3, Step C: The strap does not require disconnecting.

b. Paragraph 3, Step P(3): The girt lanyard cables must be installed on both forward and aft pulleys in accordance with a Air Cruisers Installation Instructions P-11751.

c. Paragraph 3, Step Q(18): This step may be deleted.

2. For airplanes equipped with BF Goodrich slide/rafts installed in accordance with STC SA574GL or SA575GL, replace Paragraph 3, Step C and Step Q(18), with the survival kit instructions of BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 25-063.

3. The following records checks need not be accomplished as part of this AD:

PARAGRAPH STEP 3 Q(4) 4 W(3) 5 X(3) 6 AJ 6 AU(3) 6 AU(20) 6 AU(23)

Airplane evacuation systems that do not meet the inspection criteria must be repaired prior to further flight in accordance with the corrective action procedure listed in the Boeing Service Letter or as amended by Air Cruisers installation instructions.

NOTE: Equivalent inspections may be approved by an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector.

B. Within the next nine months after the effective date of this AD, incorporate the inspections described in paragraph A., above, into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program. These inspections must be accomplished at intervals not to exceed 30 months from the last inspection.

NOTE: Equivalent inspections may be approved by an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector.

C. Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect and/or modify the evacuation system in accordance with the following service bulletins, or later FAA-approved revisions:

1. For airplanes listed in Boeing Model 747 Service Bulletin 25-2083, dated August 12, 1970, modify the off-wing escape slide compartment latch system in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

2. For all Model 747 airplanes equipped with evacuation slide assemblies (Boeing Part Number 60B00006-83 thru -102) and evacuation ramp assemblies (Boeing Part Numbers 60B50076-57 thru -60) modify the slide/ramp packboard release mechanism in accordance with Boeing Model 747 Service Bulletin 25- 2141, Revision 1, dated July 19, 1971.

NOTE: These units may have been installed on airplanes other than those listed in the service bulletin.

3. For airplanes listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2332 Revision 2, dated September 2, 1977, modify the off-wing escape slide inflation system in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

4. For Model 747 airplanes with reservoir assemblies (BF Goodrich Part Numbers 4A3037- 12 and -13, 4A3038, and 4A3038-10 and -11) installed at the off-wing location, replace the actuator assembly portion of the reservoir assembly in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2423 dated August 25, 1978.

NOTE: These reservoir assemblies may have been installed on airplanes other than those listed in the service bulletin.

5. For Model 747 airplanes listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2501, Revision 4, dated January 11, 1985, test and inspect the off-wing slide firing cable in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

a. Cables not meeting the test and inspection criteria must be replaced prior to further flight.

b. Repeat the inspection at intervals not to exceed two years until the cables are replaced in accordance with Paragraph III.J. of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2501, Revision 4, dated January 11, 1985.

6. For Model 747 airplanes equipped with upper deck evacuation slide assemblies (Boeing Part Numbers 60B50072-31, -32, -39, -41 thru -46, -50 thru -52, -59 thru -61, and -63 thru -65), modify the slide assemblies in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2465, Revision 1, dated May 25, 1982.

NOTE: These slide assemblies may have been installed on airplanes other than those listed in the service bulletin.

7. For Model 747 airplanes listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2525, Revision 1, dated May 22, 1981, modify the off-wing escape slide compartment in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

8. For Model 747 airplanes equipped with upper deck escape slide packboard assemblies (Boeing Part Number 65B57619-41 and -42), modify the packboard in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2529, dated July 10, 1981.

NOTE: These packboards may have been installed on airplanes other than those listed in the service bulletin.

9. For airplanes listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2592, dated June 15, 1982, modify the off-wing latch release and door opening thrusters in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

10. For airplanes listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2641, dated October 26, 1984, inspect and replace, if necessary, the off-wing door deployment thruster in accordance with that Boeing Service Bulletin.

D. For all Model 747 airplanes equipped with a combination slide/raft, within two years after the effective date of this AD, replace the Door No. 5 girt bar lifters and adjust the door floor fittings in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-52-2171, Revision 1, dated December 3, 1982, or later FAA-approved revisions.

E. Except as provided in Paragraph A. and B., an alternate means of compliance, which provides an acceptable level of safety, may be used when approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region.

F. Upon request of an operator, an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, subject to approval by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, may adjust the compliance times specified in this AD to permit compliance at an established inspection period of that operator if the request contains substantiating data to justify the change for that operator.

G. Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate airplanes to a base for the accomplishment of inspections and/or modifications required by this AD.

All persons affected by this directive who have not already received the appropriate service documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207; BFGoodrich Company, Dept 1809, 500 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44318; and Air Cruisers Company, P.O. Box 180, Belmar, New Jersey 07719. These documents may be examined at the FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, 17900 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Washington, or the Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 9010 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, Washington.

This amendment becomes effective March 9, 1987.