Summary
This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9 series airplanes and C-9 (military) series airplanes. This proposal would require modification of the emergency internal release system of the tailcone and the accessory compartment. This proposal is prompted by a report that, due to failure of the tailcone release system, the tailcone did not deploy on an airplane during an emergency evacuation. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure that the emergency internal release system of the tailcone performs its intended function in the event of an emergency evacuation. The actions are also intended to prevent people on board the airplane from striking their head on exposed metal frames in the tailcone area, which could cause injury and delay or impede their evacuation during an emergency.