Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21848 · 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 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021.
(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) 2017-23- 02, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -200C, - 300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2017-23-02 required repetitive inspections, replacement, and applicable on-condition actions for certain fuselage crown skin panels. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder indicating that the fuselage crown skin panels are subject to widespread fatigue damage. This AD retains the actions in AD 2017-23-02, revises certain airplane configurations and inspection locations, and adds airplanes to the applicability. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
For airplanes identified as Group 43 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, within 120 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect the airplane and do all applicable on-condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD
For airplanes identified as Groups 1 through 42 in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, except as specified by paragraph (i) of this AD: At the applicable times specified in paragraph 1.E., “Compliance,” of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, do all applicable actions identified as “RC” (required for compliance) in, and in accordance with, the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021. Actions identified as terminating action in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, 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 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021.
(1) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, uses the phrase “the original issue date of this service bulletin,” this AD requires using “December 20, 2017” (the effective date of AD 2017-23-02).
(2) Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, specifies contacting Boeing for repair instructions or for work instructions, this AD requires doing the repair, or doing the work instructions and applicable on-condition actions using a method approved in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.
(3) Part 7 of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1358, Revision 1, dated February 26, 2021, specifies post-modification airworthiness limitation inspections in compliance with 14 CFR 25.571(a)(3) at the modified locations to support compliance with 14 CFR 121.1109(c)(2) or 129.109(b)(2). Although Part 7 is identified as RC, this AD does not require accomplishment of Part 7. 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 an AMOC.
