Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737 Series Airplanes

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2002-19-51 R1 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of all Boeing Model 737 series airplanes by individual notices. This AD revises existing AD 2002-19-51 that currently requires, for certain airplanes, an inspection to determine the serial number of certain flight control modules (FCM), having P/N 65-44891-7, and corrective actions if necessary. That AD was prompted by reports of failed FCMs, which resulted in sluggish response of the aileron, elevator, and rudder surfaces. This AD revises the existing AD to provide operators with additional options for compliance, to specify the serial numbers of the affected compensator, and to make other editorial changes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent operation with one failed FCM, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane, or with two failed FCMs, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.