Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
| AD/B737/266 | Upper and Lower Skins ofthe Fuselage Lap Joint | 13/2005 |
|---|
| Applicability: | Model 737-100, -200, and -200C series aircraft, line numbers 1 through 291. |
|---|---|
| Requirement: | Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2003-23-03Amdt 39-13367.Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 737-53A1224 original issue, and Revision 1, or later FAA approved revisions, refer. |
| Compliance: | As specified in the Requirement document. |
| This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 December 2005. | |
| Background: | The FAA received a report of an in-flight rapid decompression of a Model 737 series aircraft. Investigation revealed that the skin above the forward entry door was separated at the stringer S-4R lap joint, with a 28-inch tear running along the lap joint. Further investigation revealed that numerous scratches on the skin of the lap joint had initiated fatigue cracks and subsequent tearing of the skin. Fatigue cracking and corrosion was also detected in other lap joints at various locations. Such discrepancies, if not corrected, could result in sudden fracture and failure of a lap joint and rapid decompression of the aircraft fuselage. |
View image in the official source
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
11 November 2005