Fuselage - Skin Panels - Inspection / Repair / Installation
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2013-18-08
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must perform repetitive nondestructive inspections of the fuselage skin panels along specified chem-milled lines and carry out any necessary repairs or modifications. Compliance with this AD is mandatory by January 25, 2021. Operators with STC ST01219SE installed do not require additional approval to comply with these requirements.
Summary
Airworthiness Directive 2020-26-04 is a final rule issued by the FAA addressing certain Boeing 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. It mandates inspections and repairs of fuselage skin panels, specifically targeting cracking along chem-milled lines. This directive updates and expands previous inspection requirements to ensure continued airworthiness.
What changed
This directive supersedes AD 2013-18-08 by expanding the nondestructive inspection area to include additional horizontal and vertical chem-milled step locations where cracking has been reported. It also adds more airplane models to the applicability and clarifies that installation of STC ST01219SE does not affect compliance requirements.
Why it matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses fatigue cracking that could lead to sudden fuselage skin panel failure and rapid decompression, posing serious safety risks. Operators and maintenance organizations must update their inspection programs to include the expanded areas and comply with corrective actions to maintain aircraft safety and regulatory compliance.
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