Fuselage - Skin Fasteners - Inspection

Published: Jul 4, 2022
Effective: Aug 3, 2022
Deadline: Aug 3, 2022

Boeing 737 700 800 900ER

AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.

What to do

Operators of affected Boeing 737-700, -800, and -900ER airplanes must perform detailed inspections of the fuselage skin fasteners at the STA 727 bulkhead as specified in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-53A1384 RB. Any identified issues must be addressed with the prescribed on-condition actions including repairs and repetitive inspections. Compliance with these actions is required by August 3, 2022.

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 2022-11-13 is a final rule addressing certain Boeing 737-700, -800, and -900ER series airplanes. It mandates detailed inspections of the fuselage skin fasteners at the station 727 bulkhead between stringers S-22 and S-27 due to reports of incorrectly installed fasteners. The directive includes required on-condition actions to ensure structural integrity.

What changed

This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory detailed inspections for incorrectly installed fuselage skin fasteners on specified Boeing 737 models. It clarifies that installation of Supplemental Type Certificate ST00830SE winglets does not affect compliance with the directive. The AD also specifies repetitive inspections and repair procedures if issues are found.

Why it matters

This AD is critical for aviation professionals because undetected incorrectly installed fasteners can lead to fatigue cracking, compromising the airplane's structural integrity. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to prevent potential safety hazards and maintain airworthiness. The directive also provides clarity on compliance requirements for aircraft with certain winglet modifications.

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