Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18301 · Wings
The Boeing Company Airplanes
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 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015; except for Group 1, configuration 1, airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015.
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 requires repetitive eddy current inspections for any cracking in the inspar upper skin, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report that an operator discovered a crack in a certain section of the inspar upper skin, just forward of the rear spar on the right wing. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct any cracking in the inspar upper skin and rear spar upper chord, which could result in the inability of the structure to carry limit load, or result in a fuel leak, which could prevent continued safe flight and landing.
Except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD, at the applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015: Do an eddy current inspection for any cracking in the inspar upper skin, and repair doublers and repair triplers, as applicable, and do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015; except as provided by paragraph (h) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the inspection thereafter at the applicable intervals specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015, specifies a compliance time “after the original issue date of this service bulletin,” this AD requires compliance within the specified compliance time after the effective date of this AD.
(2) The “Condition” column of table 2 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015, refers to total flight cycles “as of the original issue date of this service bulletin.” However, for this condition, this AD applies to the airplanes with the specified total flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD.
(3) Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015, specifies to contact Boeing for certain repair instructions, and specifies that action as “RC” (Required for Compliance), this AD requires repair before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
For Group 1, configurations 5 through 7, airplanes specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-57A1326, dated September 22, 2015, accomplishment of any applicable high frequency eddy current inspection, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-57-1318, dated May 15, 2013 (which was incorporated by reference in AD 2014-03-06, Amendment 39-17743 (79 FR 12368, March 5, 2014), and continues to be incorporated by reference in AD 2014-12-13, Amendment 39-17874 (79 FR 39300, July 10, 2014)), terminates the repetitive inspections in paragraph (g) of this AD for those airplanes, provided if any cracking is found, repair is done before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
Note 1 to paragraph (i) of this AD: AD 2014-12-13, Amendment 39-17874 (79 FR 39300, July 10, 2014), refers to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-57-1318, dated May 15, 2013, as the appropriate source of service information for accomplishing the actions required in that AD.
