Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18499 · Fuselage
The Boeing Company Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2022-06-07. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking of a certain chord of the pivot bulkhead. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the left side and right side forward outer chords of the pivot bulkhead, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides a modification of the pivot bulkhead, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the outer flanges of the left and right side forward outer chords of the pivot bulkhead, which could result in a severed forward outer chord and consequent loss of horizontal stabilizer control.
At the times specified in table 1 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, except as provided in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD: Do a detailed inspection and high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the left and right side forward outer chords of the STA 2370 pivot bulkhead, and do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, except as provided in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable intervals specified in table 1 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, until the modification specified in paragraph (i) of this AD is done.
For airplanes on which any repair specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075 has been done: At the times specified in table 2 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, do a surface HFEC inspection, an open-hole HFEC inspection, and a detailed inspection for cracking of the repaired side forward outer chords of the STA 2370 pivot bulkhead, and do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, in accordance with Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of this AD. Do all applicable related investigative and corrective actions before further flight. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the applicable times specified in table 2 of paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, until the modification specified in paragraph (i) of this AD is done.
Modifying the STA 2370 pivot bulkhead by replacing the left or right side forward outer chords and upper splice angles, and doing all applicable related investigative and corrective actions, terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, for the modified location only. The modification must be done in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 777-53-0076, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2015, except as required by paragraph (j)(2) of this AD.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 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) Although Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015; and Boeing Service Bulletin 777-53-0076, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2015; specify to contact Boeing for appropriate action, and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0075, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2015, 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 (l) 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
