Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-300, -400 and -500 series airplanes, that requires replacement, with new parts, of the existing actuators or the rod ends on the existing actuators at wing leading edge slat positions 1, 2, 5, and 6. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that the rod ends on several leading edge slat actuators have fractured. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking of the rod ends of the leading edge slat actuators, which could result in uncommanded deployment of the wing leading edge slat and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.