Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-200 and -300 Series Airplanes

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2000-13-51 that was sent previously to certain U.S. owners and operators of Boeing Model 737-200 and -300 series airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires repetitive special detailed inspections to detect cracking of the main deck cargo door frames, their existing reinforcing angles (where applicable), and the attach holes of the latch fittings between frame station (FS) 361.87 and FS 498.12, and between water line (WL) 202.35 and WL 213.00, in the area where the main deck cargo door latch fittings attach to the frames, and corrective actions, if necessary. This action is prompted by a report indicating that three of the subject airplanes had multiple cracks in the lower portion of the main deck cargo door frames and, in some cases, the reinforcing angles. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracking of the lower portion of the main deck cargo door frames, which could result in sudden depressurization, loss or opening of the main deck cargo door during flight, and loss of control of the airplane.