Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-19652 · Fuselage
The Boeing Company Airplanes
(1) This AD applies to The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018.
(2) Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00830SE does not affect the ability to accomplish the actions required by this AD. Therefore, for airplanes on which STC ST00830SE 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.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the skin and a certain chord at three fastener locations common to the drag link assembly at the chord. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the skin under the drag link assembly for any cracks, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as required by paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(5) of this AD: At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018.
(1) For purposes of determining compliance with the requirements of this AD: Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, uses the phrase “the original issue date of this service bulletin,” this AD requires using “the effective date of this AD.”
(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, specifies contacting Boeing: This AD requires repair before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (k) of this AD.
(3) If any action(s) identified as RC in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, cannot be accomplished as specified therein, those action(s) must be accomplished using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (k) of this AD.
(4) Parts 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, specify post-repair/modification airworthiness limitation inspections in compliance with 14 CFR 25.571(a)(3) at the repaired/modified locations to support compliance with 14 CFR 121.1109(c)(2) or 129.109(b)(2). Although Parts 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, are identified as RC, this AD does not require accomplishment of Parts 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018. As airworthiness limitations, these inspections are required by maintenance and operational rules. It is therefore unnecessary to mandate them in this AD. Deviations from these inspections require FAA approval, but do not require approval of an AMOC.
(5) For airplanes on which any crack is found during any Part 2 inspection specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, and no crack is found during the Part 3 inspection specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018: Before further flight, do the preventative modification specified in Part 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, on each side of the airplane on which no crack was found during the Part 3 inspection.
(1) Accomplishment of the repair in accordance with Part 4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, terminates the repetitive inspections specified in Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, on the side of the airplane on which the repair was done, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
(2) Accomplishment of the preventive modification in accordance with Part 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, terminates the repetitive inspections specified in Part 2 or Part 6, as applicable, of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, on the side of the airplane on which the preventive modification was done, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
Accomplishment of the repair specified in Part 4 or the modification specified in Part 5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1368, dated February 27, 2018, terminates the repetitive inspections specified in the airworthiness limitations required by paragraph (g) of AD 2013-19-23 for Principal Structural Element (PSE) 53-30-02-4 on the side of the airplane on which the repair or modification was done.
