AD 2021-10-19 Requires Revising The Existing Maintenance Or Inspection Program

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes.

This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations (AWLs) are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective July 1, 2021.

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 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2019 (84 FR 60007). The NPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive AWLs are necessary. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive AWLs.

The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes. The SNPRM published in the Federal Register on February 24, 2021 (86 FR 11158). The SNPRM was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive AWLs are necessary. The SNPRM proposed to add airplanes to the applicability, and to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive AWLs.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address inadequate AWL and damage tolerance rating (DTR) values in the maintenance or inspection program that reduce the probability of detection for foreseeable fatigue cracking of structurally significant items (SSIs). This condition, if not addressed, could result in the loss of limit load capability of an SSI as well as loss of continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

FMI: www.regulations.gov