Airworthiness Directive 2018-23-09

recurring
Official AD 2018-23-09 · FR doc 2018-24684 · 2018-11-14 · airframe

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

What this AD requires

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-13-16, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, - 800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2016-13-16 required an inspection or records check to determine if affected horizontal stabilizers are installed, related investigative actions, and, for affected horizontal stabilizers, repetitive inspections for any crack of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar upper chord, and corrective action if necessary. This AD requires retaining the requirements of AD 2016-13-16, with revised service information that clarifies the inspection areas and serial number information of the horizontal stabilizer. This AD was prompted by reports of a manufacturing oversight, in which a supplier omitted the required protective finish on certain bushings installed in the rear spar upper chord on horizontal stabilizers, which could lead to galvanic corrosion and consequent cracking of the rear spar upper chord. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 2018-23-09 applies to

MakesBoeing
Models737-600, 737-700, 737-700C, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737

Applies regardless of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00830SE installation; installing it does not affect applicability.

Whether AD 2018-23-09 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 2018-23-09 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.