Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Series Airplanes

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 747 series airplanes, that currently requires a one-time inspection of the fuselage skin adjacent to the drag splice fitting to detect cracking, and follow-on actions, if necessary. This amendment requires new repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin adjacent to the drag splice fitting. This amendment is prompted by reports of fatigue cracking in the fuselage skin and adjacent structure. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage, and consequent rapid depressurization of the airplane.