Airworthiness Directive 97-22042
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-80 Series Airplanes and Model MD-88 Airplanes
What this AD requires
This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-80 series airplanes and Model MD-88 airplanes, that currently requires visual/dye penetrant and ultrasonic inspections to detect cracks in the vertical leg of the rear spar lower cap of the wings, and various follow-on actions. This amendment is prompted by the necessity to provide the current address of the FAA office that receives the results of reporting requirements of this AD. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking in the vertical leg of the rear spar lower cap of the wing, which, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, could result in loss of the spar cap, and consequent damage to the spar cap web and adjacent wing skin structure; this condition could lead to reduced structural integrity of the wing.
Which aircraft AD 97-22042 applies to
Whether AD 97-22042 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:
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.