# AD 90-20-20: Nacelle Thrust Inspection

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Boeing 747-100 Series, 747-100B Series, 747-100B SUD Series, 747-200B Series, 747-200C Series, 747-200F Series, 747-300 Series, 747-400 Series, 747-400D Series, 747-400F Series, 747SP Series and 747SR Series
- Effective: October 23, 1990
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Large airplane
- Amendment: 39-6725
- Docket: 90-NM-79-AD
- Registered aircraft: 63 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/91BE7EAF160F54EA8625695F00702713.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-20-20

## The airworthiness directive

90-20-20 BOEING: Amendment 39-6725. Docket No. 90-NM-79-AD.

Applicability: Model 747 series airplanes, line numbers 1 through 783, certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless previously accomplished.

To prevent engine separation, accomplish the following:

A. Prior to the accumulation of 10,000 total flight cycles or within the next 1,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, perform either a detailed visual inspection or an ultrasonic inspection of the nacelle strut diagonal braces for cracks in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-54-2123, dated March 1, 1990.

Repeat these inspections as follows:

1. If the immediately preceding inspection was accomplished visually, the next inspection must be conducted within 1,000 flight cycles.

2. If the immediately preceding inspection was accomplished ultrasonically, the next inspection must be conducted within 3,000 flight cycles.B. If cracking is found, replace the nacelle strut diagonal brace with a serviceable brace prior to further flight.

C. Replacement of the nacelle strut diagonal brace with a new production diagonal brace, which has revised internal and external surface finish, in accordance with the method described in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-54-2123, dated March 1, 1990, constitutes terminating action for the inspections required by paragraph A. of this AD.

D. For the purposes of compliance with this rule, two "touch-and-go" training flights may be considered equivalent to one flight cycle.

E. 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, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate.

NOTE: The request should be submitted directly to the Manager, Seattle ACO, and a copy sent to the cognizant FAA Principal Inspector (PI). The PI will then forward comments or concurrence to the Seattle ACO.

F. 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.

All persons affected by this directive who have not already received the appropriate service documents from the manufacturer may obtain copies upon request to Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124. These documents may be examined at the FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue S.W., Renton, Washington.

This amendment (39-6725, AD 90-20-20) becomes effective on October 23, 1990.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A20WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A20WE): The Boeing Company; names 12 of 14 models: 747-100B Series, 747SP Series, 747-400D Series, 747-400F Series, 747-200B Series, 747-200F Series, 747-300 Series, 747-200C Series…

## 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: 63 (63 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Boeing 63

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Boeing 747-446](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-446): 10 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-422](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-422): 8 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-412](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-412): 5 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-400F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-400f): 4 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-409](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-409): 4 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-481F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-481f): 3 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-409F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-409f): 3 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-481](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-481): 3 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-428F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-428f): 3 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-123](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-123): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-251F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-251f): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-443](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-443): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-438](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-438): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-428](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-428): 2 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-257B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-257b): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-283B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-283b): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-121](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-121): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-131](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-131): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-128](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-128): 1 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Boeing 747-273C](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-273c): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 24 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-20-20/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/90-20-20/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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