Summary
This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes, that would have required an inspection of the upper lock link assembly of the nose landing gear (NLG) to determine the manufacturer, repetitive eddy current inspections for cracking, and modification or replacement if necessary. That proposal also would have provided for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This new action revises the proposed rule by adding new airplanes to the applicability and adding related concurrent actions. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent fracture of the upper lock link assembly of the NLG, which could result in failure of the NLG to extend following a gear-down selection, and consequent gear-up landing, structural damage, and possible injury to passengers and crew. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.