Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of the vertical stabilizer leading edge showing signs of fastener distress. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for any distress of the vertical stabilizer leading edge skin, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposed AD would also require, for certain airplanes, repetitive detailed inspections of the spar cap for any loose and missing fasteners, repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) and radiographic testing (RT) inspections of the spar cap for any crack, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct any crack in the vertical stabilizer leading edge and front spar cap, which may result in the structure becoming unable to support limit load, and may lead to the loss of the vertical stabilizer.