Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13973 · Boeing Model 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (Including -320B Variant), -300C, and -E3A (Military) Series Airplanes; Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes; Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes; and Model 747 Airplanes
Boeing Model 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (Including -320B Variant), -300C, and -E3A (Military) Series Airplanes; Model 720 and 720B Series Airplanes; Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes; and Model 747 Airplanes
This AD applies to the airplanes listed in Table 1 of this AD, certificated in any category.
| Model— | As listed in— |
|---|---|
| (1) 707-E3A (military), -100, -100B, -300, -300B (-320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and 720 series airplanes | Boeing Alert Service Bulletin A3505, dated November 1, 2001. |
| (2) 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (including -320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and 720 and 720B series airplanes | Boeing Service Bulletin 3513, dated November 6, 2003. |
| (3) 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes | Boeing Service Bulletin 737-28A1174, Revision 1, dated July 18, 2002. |
| (4) 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and 747SP and 747SR series airplanes | Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2239, Revision 1, dated October 17, 2002. |
| (5) 747-400 and -400F series airplanes | Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-28A2245, Revision 1, dated August 21, 2003. |
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing transport category airplanes. This AD requires repetitive tests of the overwing fuel fill ports for certain wing tanks; an electrical bonding resistance test between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar inside the fuel tank of the wings; other specified actions; and applicable corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by our determination that this AD is necessary to reduce the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing or sparking at the interface between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar inside the fuel tank of the wings and between the overwing fuel fill ports and the airplane structure during a lightning strike. Such arcing or sparking could provide a possible ignition source for the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank and cause consequent fuel tank explosions.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
The term “service bulletin,” as used in this AD, means the Work Instructions of the applicable service bulletins specified in the “As Listed In” column of Table 1 of this AD.
(g) Actions specified in paragraphs (h) through (i) of this AD that were done before the effective date of this AD in accordance with the applicable service information listed in Table 2 of this AD are acceptable for compliance with the applicable requirements of this AD.
| For model— | Boeing Alert Service Bulletin— |
|---|---|
| (1) 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes | 737-28A1174, dated December 20, 2001. |
| (2) 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and 747SP and 747SR series airplanes | 747-28A2239, dated November 29, 2001. |
| (3) 747-400 and -400F series airplanes | 747-28A2245, dated November 26, 2002. |
For the airplanes identified in paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(4) of this AD: Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, do an electrical bonding resistance test between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar inside the fuel tank of the wings to determine the resistance, and do other specified actions and applicable corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in paragraph 3.B. of the applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in accordance with the service bulletin, except as provided by paragraphs (j) and (k) of this AD. Do the applicable corrective actions before further flight.
(1) Model 707-E3A (military), -100, -100B, -300, -300B (-320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and Model 720 series airplanes.
(2) Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes.
(3) Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, -300, -400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes; and Model 747SP and 747SR series airplanes.
(4) Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes.
(i) For Model 707-100, -100B, -300, -300B (including -320B variant), and -300C series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes: Within 5 years after the effective date of this AD, do an electrical bonding resistance test of the over-wing fuel fill ports for the wing tanks No. 1 and No. 4 and the center wing tank to determine the resistance, and do applicable corrective actions, by accomplishing all the actions specified in paragraph 3.B. of the applicable service bulletin. Do the actions in accordance with the service bulletin, except as provided by paragraphs (j) and (k) of this AD. Do the applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the electrical bonding resistance test thereafter at intervals not to exceed 14,000 flight hours.
Operators may use their own FAA-accepted equivalent procedures for draining the fuel tanks and gaining access to the fuel tanks.
Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD specifies to identify the front spar on the visible forward surface with the service bulletin number or equivalent, this AD does not include that requirement.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
