Wings - Outboard Flap Tracks - Inspection
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Boeing 737 models must inspect the wing outboard flap tracks to identify part numbers and perform repetitive inspections for damage and corrosion. Overhaul of the flap tracks must be conducted repetitively as specified. Compliance with these actions is required by October 18, 2018, and no flap track may be installed without the required inspections either prior to or concurrent with installation.
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airworthiness Directive 2018-18-13 addresses all Boeing 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. It mandates inspections and repetitive overhauls of the wing outboard flap tracks due to reports of cracking in certain flanges and adjacent webs. This directive aims to ensure the structural integrity of the flap tracks to maintain safe flight control.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory inspections to determine the part number of the wing outboard flap track assembly, repetitive inspections for discrepancies, and repetitive overhauls of each affected flap track. It also clarifies inspection requirements and revises installation limitations to allow inspections prior to or concurrently with installation. The directive does not extend compliance times despite requests and confirms that winglet installations under STC ST01219SE do not affect compliance.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because cracking in the wing outboard flap tracks can compromise a principal structural element, potentially leading to loss of the outboard trailing edge flap and reduced airplane controllability. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure timely inspections and overhauls to detect and correct these cracks, thereby preventing unsafe conditions and avoiding possible aircraft grounding.
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