Airworthiness Directive 2015-16-08

recurring
Official AD 2015-16-08 · FR doc 2015-20372 · 2015-08-25 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

What this AD requires

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-08-51 for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2011-08-51 required repetitive inspections of the lap joint at certain stringers along the entire length from certain body stations. This new AD expands the inspection area, requires additional inspections for cracks and open pockets, requires corrective actions if necessary, and revises the compliance times. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that has determined that the lower fastener holes in the lower skin of the fuselage lap splice are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the lower fastener holes in the lower skin of the fuselage lap splice, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

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

Which aircraft AD 2015-16-08 applies to

MakesBoeing
Models737-300, 737-400, 737-500, 737

Applies to airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-53A1319, Revision 2, dated April 4, 2014.

Whether AD 2015-16-08 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 complianceThe specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
DateWhen the work was done.
Aircraft timeTotal time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificateThe A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 2015-16-08 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.