Is AD 97-1438 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

Yes — AD 97-1438 requires a repetitive inspection. Next-due depends on the aircraft's time in service.

Which aircraft does AD 97-1438 apply to?

AD 97-1438 applies to Mcdonnell Douglas — models C-9, DC-9-80, MD-88, MD-90. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 97-1438

recurring

AD 97-1438 · 1997-01-27 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9, DC-9-80, and C-9 (Military) Series Airplanes, Model MD-88 Airplanes, and Model MD-90 Airplanes

What this AD requires

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9, DC-9-80, and C-9 (military) series airplanes, Model MD-88 airplanes, and Model MD-90 airplanes. This action requires a visual check to determine the part and serial numbers of the upper lock link assembly of the nose landing gear (NLG); repetitive inspections of certain upper lock link assemblies to detect fatigue cracking; and modification of the NLG. This action also provides for terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that, due to fatigue cracking, the upper lock link assembly on an airplane fractured, and consequently prevented the NLG from extending fully. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent this assembly from fracturing due to fatigue cracking, and the NLG consequently failing to extend fully; this condition could result in injury to passengers and flight crew, and damage to the airplane.

Repetitive inspection. Re-inspect. The next-due date/hours depend on this aircraft’s time in service — a records report computes it from the logbooks.

Which aircraft AD 97-1438 applies to

MakesMcdonnell Douglas

ModelsC-9, DC-9-80, MD-88, MD-90

certain

Whether AD 97-1438 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.

How AD compliance is recorded

A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:

Method of compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.

Date — When the work was done.

Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.

Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.

Is AD 97-1438 complied with on your aircraft?

Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.

Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)

Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.