Emergency AD issued on Boeing 737-200s, -300s

FAA yesterday issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) affecting Boeing 737-200 and -300 series airplanes equipped with a main deck cargo door installed with STC SA2969SO.

Borescope inspections on three aircraft required by an AD in July have turned up cracks in the reinforcing angles of the main deck cargo doorframe. Subsequent disassembly of the affected structure revealed substantial cracking that was hidden by the layered structure and not detected by the special detailed inspections.

FAA is therefore requiring within seven days a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection of all affected structural elements of the main deck cargo door, and replacement of any cracked part to prevent reduced structural integrity of the main deck cargo door, which could result in sudden depressurization, loss or opening of the main deck cargo door during flight.

Click here for a full-text, .pdf file of the AD, number 2000-17-51.

For more information, contact Rany Azzi, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ACE-117A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30337-2748. Tel: 770-703-6083; Fax 770-703-6097.

Edited by David Robb
Managing Editor, AerospaceOnline.com