Summary
This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 series airplanes. This proposal would require inspection(s) to detect cracking in the nose skin of the fuselage, and various follow-on actions. The proposal would also provide an optional modification, which would defer certain repetitive inspections, if no cracking is detected. This proposal is prompted by reports of cracking in the upper nose skin of the fuselage due to fatigue. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue-related cracking, which could compromise the structural integrity of the airplane.