Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 767-200 series airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections of the side panels of the nose wheel well for broken rivets and replacement of any broken rivets with bolts. This amendment also requires follow-on inspections of adjacent areas for cracks or broken rivets, whenever two or more adjacent broken rivets are found; repair of any cracks; and replacement of any broken rivets with bolts. Finally, this amendment provides for the optional replacement of all rivets in the affected areas with bolts, which terminates the repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct broken rivets in the nose wheel well side panels and top panel, which could impair the function of the nose landing gear and cause fatigue cracks in the side panel and top panel webs of the nose wheel well, which could result in rapid cabin depressurization during flight. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.