Summary
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the part number of the upper and lower stop pad support fittings of all the lower cargo doors, repetitive inspections of all early configuration stop pad support fittings, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of cracks found in the area of the upper and lower stop pad support fittings of the cargo door pan on numerous airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracks in the cargo door pan, which could result in the inability to fully pressurize an airplane and possible rapid decompression of the airplane.