Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18044 · Fuselage
The Boeing Company Airplanes
(1) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013.
(2) Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01219SE (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgstc.nsf/0/ebd1cec7b301293e86257cb30045557a/$FILE/ST01219SE.pdf) does not affect the ability to accomplish the actions required by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST01219SE is installed, a “change in product” alternative method of compliance (AMOC) approval request is not necessary to comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 39.17.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports from multiple operators that have found fatigue cracking in the corners of the forward galley service doorway. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any cracking of the skin and bear strap doublers in the corners of the forward galley service doorway, and corrective action if necessary. This AD also provides optional terminating actions for certain repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid loss of cabin pressure.
For Groups 1 through 4 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013: Within the applicable compliance times specified in Tables 1 through 10 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, except as provided by paragraph (j)(1) and (j)(3) of this AD, do the applicable detailed and low frequency eddy current inspections for any cracking of the skin and bear straps in the corners of the forward galley service door, and do all applicable corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the inspections at the applicable time specified in Tables 1 through 10 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013.
For Group 5 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013: Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, do inspections of the skin and bear straps and all applicable corrective actions using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (m) of this AD.
(1) For Groups 1 and 2 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013: Accomplishment of a repair before the effective date of this AD in the upper aft corner of the forward galley service doorway, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of any service information specified in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) through (i)(1)(iv) of this AD, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for that repaired doorway corner only.
(i) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, dated July 21, 1988.
(ii) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 1, dated September 7, 1989.
(iii) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 2, dated September 30, 1993.
(iv) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 3, dated July 27, 1995.
(2) For Group 2 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, on which no repair or modification was done using any of the service information identified in paragraphs (i)(2)(i) through (i)(2)(iv) of this AD; and for Group 3 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013: Repairing or modifying the upper aft corner of the forward galley service doorway, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for that repaired or modified doorway corner only.
(i) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, dated July 21, 1988.
(ii) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 1, dated September 7, 1989.
(iii) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 2, dated September 30, 1993.
(iv) Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1116, Revision 3, dated July 27, 1995.
(3) For Groups 2 and 3 airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013: Repairing or modifying the lower forward or lower aft corner of the forward galley service doorway, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, terminates the inspections required by paragraph (g) of this AD for that repaired or modified doorway corner only.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, specifies a compliance time “after the Revision 4 date of this service bulletin,” this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time “after the effective date of this AD.”
(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, specifies to contact Boeing for repair instructions: Before further flight, repair the cracking using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (m) of this AD.
(3) Note 14 of paragraph 3.A., “General Information” in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, states that inspections as given in that service bulletin are not required for the upper forward corner if there is a Boeing-provided repair which has been approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to AD 2008-11-04, Amendment 39-15526 (73 FR 29421, May 21, 2008). This AD also does not require inspections for the upper forward corner given in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1116, Revision 4, dated September 30, 2013, if there is a Boeing-provided repair approved as an AMOC to the corresponding requirements of AD 2014-05-21, Amendment 39-17794 (79 FR 14992, March 18, 2014), for the repaired area only, provided the approval was made before the effective date of this AD and the repair doubler covers the doorway upper forward corner and the upper hinge cutout.
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
