Airworthiness Directive 2025-05-16
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
What this AD requires
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-800 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the compliance time for the initial ultrasonic inspection required by AD 2019-11-06 is insufficient for certain airplanes. This AD requires reducing the compliance time for the ultrasonic inspection of the skin under the drag link assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Which aircraft AD 2025-05-16 applies to
Applies to Model 737-800 series airplanes converted to a freighter configuration using Boeing Drawing 800A0003 before April 1, 2021, and identified as Group A in Section 5.2.1, 'Effectivity,' of Boeing 737-800BCF Airworthiness Limitations, D140A006, Revision L, dated April 1, 2021 (the 737-800BCF designation). Installation of STC ST00830SE does not affect the ability to accomplish the required actions; airplanes with STC ST00830SE installed do not need a change-in-product AMOC approval.
Whether AD 2025-05-16 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:
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.