AD/B737/246 Upper Fuselage Skin between STA 360 and STA 1016 (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B737/246 Upper Fuselage Skin between
STA 360 and STA 1016 9/2005

Applicability:	Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series aircraft; as identified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-53-1234 Revision 1, or later FAA approved revision.
Requirement:	Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2005-13-27 Amdt 39-14164.
Compliance:	As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 1 September 2005.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 September 2005.
Background:	This Directive was prompted by a Model 737 fuselage structure test and analysis that indicate fuselage skin cracking could occur between 21,000 and 42,000 total flight cycles.  Undetected fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin could cause the fuselage skin to fracture and fail, with consequent rapid decompression of the aircraft.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

21 July 2005