AD NUMBER: 2016-16-13

PRODUCT: Certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-13-10, for the aircraft listed above.

AD 2016-13-10 required repetitive external detailed inspections and nondestructive inspections to detect cracks in the fuselage skin along the chem-mill steps at stringers S-1 and S-2R, between station (STA) 400 and STA 460, and repair if necessary.

AD 2016-13-10 also required a preventive modification of the fuselage skin at crown stringers S-1 and S-2R.

This AD requires the same actions as AD 2016-13-10, and clarifies certain regulatory text. This AD was prompted by the determination that certain regulatory text in AD 2016-13-10 requires clarification.

The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin panels at the chem-mill steps, which could result in sudden fracture and failure of the fuselage skin panels, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective August 15, 2016. Comments must be received by September 29, 2016.

FMI: AD