AD 2022-11-13 Requires A Detailed Inspection Of A Certain Body Station Bulkhead

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700, -800, and -900ER series airplanes.

This AD was prompted by reports of incorrectly installed fuselage skin fasteners. This AD requires a detailed inspection of a certain body station bulkhead, between certain stringers, for any incorrectly installed fastener common to fuselage skin, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective August 3, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700, -800, and -900ER series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 13, 2021 (86 FR 56840). The NPRM was prompted by reports of incorrectly installed fuselage skin fasteners found at the station (STA) 727 bulkhead. This condition was the result of incorrect procedures used to install affected fasteners during airplane production that occurred within a certain time period. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a detailed inspection of STA 727 body station bulkhead, between stringers S-22 and S-27, for any incorrectly installed fastener common to fuselage skin, and applicable oncondition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent continuous operation of the airplane with undetected incorrectly installed fasteners, which may generate fatigue cracking that could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

FMI: www.regulations.gov