AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

 

CAA-AD-016/2001

 

Date of issue: February 12, 2001

 

AIRCRAFT – FORWARD PRESSURE BULKHEAD - INSPECTION

 

Applicability: : Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999.

 

Effective date: March 22, 2001

 

Compliance: Required as indicated in FAA AD 2001-02-01.

 

Remarks: The compliance of this AD must be recorded in Aircraft Logbook, where applicable the requirements of this AD must be integrated into Aircraft Technical Documentation. Address inquiries concerning this AD to: Civil Aviation Authority, Airworthiness Division, Ruzyne Airport, 160 08 Prague 6, Czech Republic, tel: 420 2 33320922, fax: 420 2 20562270.

 

Ing. Pavel MATOUŠEK
Director of Airworthiness Division
CAA CZ

 

2001-02-01 BOEING: Amendment 39-12085. Docket 99-NM-380-AD.
Applicability: Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes, certificated in any category; as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999.
NOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To detect fatigue cracking of the forward pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane fuselage, accomplish the following:

Initial and Repetitive Inspections
(a) Before the accumulation of 20,000 total flight cycles, or within 3,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later: Perform the applicable inspections of the vertical and side chord areas of the forward pressure bulkhead to detect cracking, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999. Thereafter, repeat the inspections at intervals not to exceed 6,000 flight cycles until the preventive modifications required by paragraph (c) of this AD have been accomplished.

Repair

(b) If any cracking is detected during any inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, before further flight, repair the area in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999.

Terminating Action

(c) Before the accumulation of 75,000 total flight cycles, or within 12,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later: Accomplish preventive modifications of the vertical and side chord areas of the forward pressure bulkhead, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999. Accomplishment of these modifications constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permit

(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(f) The actions shall be done in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1208, dated May 6, 1999. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Effective Date

(g) This amendment becomes effective on February 28, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nenita K. Odesa, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM-120S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2557; fax (425) 227-1181.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 12, 2001.

Donald L. Riggin, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.