AD/B737/167 - Keel Beam Splices (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B737/167 Keel Beam Splices 12/2001

Applicability: Model 737-600 and -700 series aircraft, line numbers 1 through 908, and Model 737- 800 series aircraft, line numbers 1 through 455.

Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-17-02 Amdt 39-12393.

If any corrosion or cracking is found during the required inspection, before further flight, repair or replace the splice plates and bolts with new, improved parts; per data meeting the type certification basis of the aircraft approved by a Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative (DER), who has been authorised to make such findings.

Note: Boeing Document D626A001, Task Number 53-210-00, dated June 2001, refers.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document with a revised effective date of 29 November 2001.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 November 2001.

Background: The FAA received a report of severe corrosion on a keel beam splice on two Model 737-700 aircraft that had been in service for 22 months. This Directive requires repetitive inspections to detect and correct corrosion or cracking of the keel beam splices. Failure of the keel beam could result in failure of the forward fuselage of the aircraft.