Is AD 2003-20-16 a recurring Airworthiness Directive?

Yes — AD 2003-20-16 requires a repetitive inspection every 2000 hours. Next-due depends on the aircraft's time in service.

Which aircraft does AD 2003-20-16 apply to?

AD 2003-20-16 applies to Boeing — models 747. Serial/part conditions may narrow it to specific aircraft.

Airworthiness Directive 2003-20-16

recurring

Official AD 2003-20-16 · FR doc 03-25700 · 2003-10-14 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747SP, 747SR, 747-100, 747-200, and 747-300 Series Airplanes; Equipped With Pratt & Whitney Model JT9D-3, -7, and -7Q Series Engines and Model JT9D-7R4G2 Engines

What this AD requires

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747SP, 747SR, 747-100, 747- 200, and 747-300 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive operational tests of the reversible gearbox pneumatic drive unit (PDU) or the reversing air motor PDU to ensure that the unit can restrain the thrust reverser sleeve, and correction of any discrepancy found. This amendment requires installation of a terminating modification, repetitive functional tests of that installation to detect discrepancies, and repair if necessary. This amendment also removes airplanes from the applicability and adds certain new requirements. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure the integrity of the fail-safe features of the thrust reverser system by preventing possible failure modes in the thrust reverser control system that can result in inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

Repetitive inspection. Re-inspect every 2000 hours. The next-due date/hours depend on this aircraft’s time in service — a records report computes it from the logbooks.

Which aircraft AD 2003-20-16 applies to

MakesBoeing

Models747

Applicability text is a continuation ('applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision') whose specific model list is on a preceding page not captured in this excerpt. Referenced Boeing Alert/Service Bulletins (747-78A2131, 747-78-2134, 747-78-2052, 747-78-2152) indicate Boeing 747 series airplanes; concerns thrust reverser system fail-safe features (restates AD 95-16-02 requirements plus new locking-system modifications).

Whether AD 2003-20-16 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.

How AD compliance is recorded

A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:

Method of compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.

Date — When the work was done.

Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.

Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.

Is AD 2003-20-16 complied with on your aircraft?

Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.

Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)

Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.