AD NUMBER: 2011-18-10

MANUFACTURER: The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER Series Airplanes
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive
ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. The existing AD currently requires reviewing the airplane maintenance records to determine whether an engine has been removed from the airplane since the airplane was manufactured. For airplanes on which an engine has been removed, the existing AD also requires an inspection of the aft engine mount to determine if the center link assembly is correctly installed, and follow-on actions if necessary.

This new AD expands the applicability to include airplanes on which the engine has not been previously removed, and Model 737-900ER airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports indicating that operators found that the center link assembly for the aft engine mount was reversed on several airplanes that had not had an engine removed since delivery. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent increased structural loads on the aft engine mount, which could result in failure of the aft engine mount and consequent separation of the engine from the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective November 7, 2011.

FMI: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/00E80A6C218D572A8625791E004830DC?OpenDocument