AD 49-38-02

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft

AD Number
49-38-02
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.
Technical illustration of an aircraft turbine engine assembly
Problem area Engine

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft The Boeing Company C54-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company C54A-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company C54B-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company C54D-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company C54E-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company C54G-DC Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-4 Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft

Unsafe Condition

Fatigue failure of critical structural bolts in fuselage, wing, stabilizer, engine mount, and tail attachments due to insufficient fatigue life or improper material/heat treatment.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Replace specified bolts in fuselage to center wing, outer wing to center wing, vertical stabilizer to fuselage tail, engine mount to firewall, and horizontal stabilizer to fuselage tail attachments with NAS bolts (rolled threads after heat treatment) or special studs as specified. Scrappage of removed bolts is required.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

At every 9,000 hours total airplane flight time, with possible extension up to 18,000 hours if specific stud replacements are made. Extensions beyond 9,000 hours require CAA Inspector approval, not exceeding 1,500 hours after January 26, 1948, and must align with regular overhaul periods.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Douglas C-54 and DC-4 aircraft models including C54-DC, C54A-DC, C54B-DC, C54D-DC, C54E-DC, C54G-DC, and DC-4, all serial numbers.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

Bolt Replacement

Applicability Source Text

Show captured applicability text from the source AD
AD Final Rules - DRS_49-38-02.html
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AD Number:
49-38-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
Subject:
Bolt Replacement
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
The Boeing Company
Model:
C54-DC | C54A-DC | C54B-DC | C54D-DC | C54E-DC | C54G-DC | DC-4
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Large Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 49-38-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   49-38-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
49-38-02 DOUGLAS: Applies to All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft.

To be accomplished at every 9,000 hours total airplane flight time.

In those cases where the present bolts have or will have accumulated more than 9,000 hours time prior to the next regular overhaul period, the first replacement time may be extended, at the discretion of the CAA Inspector, to coincide with a regular overhaul period but in no case should the adjustment time exceed 1,500 hours accumulated after January 26, 1948. Thereafter the bolt replacement shall be at the 9,000- or 18,000-hour period, whichever is applicable.

Replace the following bolts: Fuselage to Center Wing Attachment; Outer Wing to Center Wing Attachment; Vertical Stabilizer Attachment to Fuselage Tail, Station 953; Engine Mount to Fire Wall Attachment; Horizontal Stabilizer to Fuselage Tail Assembly Attachment.

The 9,000-hour period may be extended to 18,000 hours when studs 4105725-1 and -2 in outer wing attachment have been replaced with special studs Nos. 4357723-1 and -2 having letter "R" stamped on thread end and bolts in all other attachments listed are replaced with NAS bolts with threads rolled after heat treatment.

The bolt part numbers and the number of bolts required are shown on pages 4 and 5 of the Douglas Service Magazine of August 1947. Bolts removed from the airplane are to be scrapped and are not to be used again.

(Douglas Service Letter No. 66, Supplement No. 2, dated July 18, 1951, covers this same subject relative to wing alignment at Station 421.)

This supersedes AD 48-04-03.


FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_49-38-02.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
49-38-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft
Subject:
Bolt Replacement
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
The Boeing Company
Model:
C54-DC | C54A-DC | C54B-DC | C54D-DC | C54E-DC | C54G-DC | DC-4
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Large Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 49-38-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   49-38-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; DOUGLAS All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:  
49-38-02 DOUGLAS: Applies to All Models C-54 and DC-4 Aircraft.

To be accomplished at every 9,000 hours total airplane flight time.

In those cases where the present bolts have or will have accumulated more than 9,000 hours time prior to the next regular overhaul period, the first replacement time may be extended, at the discretion of the CAA Inspector, to coincide with a regular overhaul period but in no case should the adjustment time exceed 1,500 hours accumulated after January 26, 1948. Thereafter the bolt replacement shall be at the 9,000- or 18,000-hour period, whichever is applicable.

Replace the following bolts: Fuselage to Center Wing Attachment; Outer Wing to Center Wing Attachment; Vertical Stabilizer Attachment to Fuselage Tail, Station 953; Engine Mount to Fire Wall Attachment; Horizontal Stabilizer to Fuselage Tail Assembly Attachment.

The 9,000-hour period may be extended to 18,000 hours when studs 4105725-1 and -2 in outer wing attachment have been replaced with special studs Nos. 4357723-1 and -2 having letter "R" stamped on thread end and bolts in all other attachments listed are replaced with NAS bolts with threads rolled after heat treatment.

The bolt part numbers and the number of bolts required are shown on pages 4 and 5 of the Douglas Service Magazine of August 1947. Bolts removed from the airplane are to be scrapped and are not to be used again.

(Douglas Service Letter No. 66, Supplement No. 2, dated July 18, 1951, covers this same subject relative to wing alignment at Station 421.)

This supersedes AD 48-04-03.


FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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