AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/87 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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/B737/87
Amdt 2
Fuselage Lap Joints, Lower Skins 7/2002
Applicability: Model 737-200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft, with line numbers 292
through 2565.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-07-08 Amdt 39-12702.
Note: Boeing Service Bulletins 737-53A1177 Revision 4, Revision 5, and Revision 6 refer.
Compliance: As specified in the requirement document, with a revised effective date of 11 July 2002.
This amendment becomes effective on 11 July 2002.
Background: Cracks have been experienced on six aircraft in the lower skin at the fuselage lap joints. If the cracks are not detected at an early stage, they could grow to a length that may result in a rapid decompression.
Amendment 1 required that inspections be accomplished at more frequent intervals. The AD also added a requirement for modification of the fuselage lap joints at certain locations, which constituted terminating action for repetitive inspections of modified areas.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which adds repetitive inspections and requires replacement of the current preventive modification with an improved modification. The AD was prompted by the FAA’s determination that, in light of additional crack findings, certain modifications of the fuselage lap joints do not provide an adequate level of safety.
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/87 Amdt 2 (continued)
The original issue of this airworthiness directive became effective on 25 May 1995. Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 29 January 1998.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 May 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.