Wed, Apr 06, 2011
Move Follows Decompression Incident Involving A Southwest
B737
As reported by ANN Monday, the FAA has gone forward with an
emergency AD for three series of Boeing's workhorse 737 single
aisle airliners.
AD 2011-08-51 has been sent to owners and operators of The
Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This
emergency AD was prompted by a report indicating that a Model
737-300 series airplane experienced a rapid decompression when the
lap joint at stringer S-4L between body station (BS) 664 and BS 727
cracked and opened up. Investigation showed that the cracking was
located in the lower skin at the lower row of fasteners. The
airplane had accumulated 39,781 total flight cycles and 48,740
total flight hours. This condition, if not corrected, could result
in an uncontrolled decompression of the airplane. Because the lap
joint and tear strap spacing configuration is the same on Model
737-400 and -500 series airplanes, these airplanes may be subject
to the identified unsafe condition.
The FAA has reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1319,
dated April 4, 2011. The service bulletin describes procedures for
external eddy current inspections of the lap joints at stringers
S-4R and S-4L, along the entire length from body station (BS) 360
to BS 908. If a crack indication is found, the service bulletin
specifies either confirming the crack by doing internal eddy
current inspections, or repairing the crack. As an alternative to
the external eddy current inspections, the service bulletin
provides procedures for internal eddy current and detailed
inspections for cracks in the lower skin at the lower row of
fasteners at stringers S-4L and S-4R. The service bulletin
specifies contacting Boeing for crack repair instructions.
Southwest B737-300
The emergency AD was issued after the FAA evaluated all the
relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of these
same type designs.
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