Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17154 · Fuselage
The Boeing Company Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2017-03-04. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of chem-mill step cracking on the aft lower lobe fuselage skins. This AD requires inspections of the fuselage skin at the chem- mill steps, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking on the aft lower lobe fuselage skins, which could result in decompression of the airplane.
At the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, except as required by paragraph (i)(1) of this AD: Do an external detailed inspection; and, as applicable, do an external or internal subsurface eddy current, magneto optic imager, or C-scan inspection; to detect cracks in the fuselage skin at the chem-mill steps; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011.
If any crack is found during any inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD: At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, do all the actions specified in either paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD.
(1) Do a time-limited repair; followed by applicable related investigative actions, corrective actions, and making the time-limited repair permanent; in accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, except as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD.
(2) Do a permanent repair, including a detailed inspection of the bonded doubler for disbonding and a high frequency eddy current inspection for cracks of the bonded doubler, in accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011. Repair any cracks and disbonding before further flight, in accordance with Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, except as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD. Accomplishment of the permanent repair terminates the repetitive inspections required by this AD for the area(s) of the repair only.
The exceptions specified in paragraphs (i)(1) and (i)(2) of this AD apply to this AD.
(1) Where Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, specifies a compliance time after “the date of this service bulletin,” this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1315, dated July 29, 2011, specifies to contact Boeing for repair instructions: Before further flight, repair using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
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.
Aircraft
