Boeing 747s of all models that have flown more than 15,000 cycles must be inspected for fuselage cracks under certain repair doublers, according to a new US Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive (AD). The AD follows information from investigators studying the 25 May 2002 in-flight break-up of a China Airlines Boeing 747-200 in which 225 people died. The Taiwan investigators have reported that signs of fatigue cracking in the fuselage near the rear door had been found in the wreckage recovered from the sea near Penghu Island off mainland Taiwan. The AD requires "general visual inspection for repair doublers on the fuselage skin" from the rear passenger door to behind the aft pressure bulkhead. Boeing says 246 active 747s are affected, of which 15 are -400s.
Source: Flight International
