# AD 90-18-03: Structural Failure - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Historical - Products: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-80 Series (all), DC-9 Series (all) and MD-88 - Effective: September 24, 1990 - Superseded by: [AD 96-10-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/96-10-11) - Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane - Amendment: 39-6701 - Docket: 89-NM-197-AD - Registered aircraft: 15 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/361228B72BA08C7A86256A1E004B055C.0001 - DRS record last changed: August 7, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-18-03 ## The airworthiness directive 90-18-03 McDONNELL DOUGLAS: Amendment 39-6701. Docket No. 89-NM-197-AD. Applicability: Model DC-9 and C-9 (Military) series airplanes, including Model DC-9-80 series and Model MD-88 airplanes, certificated in any category. Compliance: Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished. To prevent structural failure, accomplish the following: A. Within the threshold for inspections specified in the service bulletins listed in Table 2.1 or Table 2.2, as applicable, of "DC-9/MD-80 Aging Aircraft Service Action Requirements Document," McDonnell Douglas Report No. MDC-K1572, Revision A, dated June 1, 1990 (hereinafter referred to as "The Document"), or within one repetitive inspection period specified in those service bulletins after the effective date of this AD, whichever is later, inspect for cracks in accordance with those service bulletins. Repeat these inspections at intervals specified in the service bulletins listed in Table 2.1 or Table 2.2, as applicable, of The Document. 1. If cracks are found during any inspection, prior to further flight, either accomplish the terminating modification in accordance with paragraph B. of this AD, or repair in accordance with data approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region. NOTE: Detection of discrepancies other than cracking necessitates appropriate corrective action in accordance with the provisions of Part 43 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). 2. Modification in accordance with paragraph B. of this AD terminates the individual inspection requirements of the applicable service bulletin. B. Prior to reaching the incorporation thresholds listed in Table 2.1 or Table 2.2, as applicable, of The Document, or within 4 years after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, accomplish the structural modifications specified in the service bulletins listed in Table 2.1 or Table 2.2, as applicable, of The Document. NOTE: The modifications required by this paragraph do not terminate the inspection requirements of any other AD unless that AD specifies that any such modification constitutes terminating action for those specified inspection requirements. C. An alternate means of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time, which provides an acceptable level of safety, may be used when approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. NOTE: The request should be submitted directly to the Manager, Los Angeles ACO, and a copy sent to the cognizant FAA Principal Inspector (PI). The PI will then forward comments or concurrence to the Los Angeles ACO. D. Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate airplanes to a base in order to comply with the requirements of this AD. The inspections and modifications shall be done in accordance with the "DC-9/MD-80 Aging Aircraft Service Action Requirements Document," McDonnell Douglas Report No. MDC-K1572, Revision A, dated June 1, 1990, which incorporates the following list of affected pages: Page Number Revision Date i A June 1, 1990 ii Original September 12, 1989 iii - v A June 1, 1990 1 - 36 A June 1, 1990 This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies may be obtained from McDonnell Douglas Corporation, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, California 90846, Attention: Business Unit Manager of Publications, C1-HCO (54-60). Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington; at the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 1100 L Street, N.W., Room 8301, Washington, D.C. This amendment (39-6701, AD 90-18-03) becomes effective on September 24, 1990. ## 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 1 of 25 models: MD-88 ## 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: 15 (15 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Mcdonnell Douglas 14, Douglas 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88): 14 aircraft (airframe model) - [Douglas DC-9](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 3 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-18-03/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-18-03/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [AD 96-10-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/96-10-11): Structural Failure ยท Boeing DC-9-11, DC-9-12, DC-9-13 and 20 more. Effective Jun 20, 1996. Supersedes this AD 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.