Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21359 · 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 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020.
(2) Installation of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01219SE 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.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-18- 08, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -200C, - 300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2013-18-08 required repetitive inspections for cracking of certain skin panels of the fuselage, and of the fuselage skin along certain chem-milled lines, and corrective actions if necessary. AD 2013-18-08 also included a terminating action for the repetitive inspections of certain areas. This AD retains those actions, expands the nondestructive inspection (NDI) area, and adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports of additional cracking in certain horizontal and vertical chem-milled step locations outside of those identified in AD 2013-18-08. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
For airplanes identified as Group 1 through 25 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020, except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020. Actions identified as terminating action in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020, terminate the applicable required actions of this AD, provided the terminating action is done in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020, 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 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020, specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions, this AD requires doing the repair before further flight using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
For airplanes identified as Group 26 in Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1346, dated March 27, 2020: Within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect the fuselage skin along certain chem-milled lines for cracks, using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
