Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 and -400F Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes, that requires initial and, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections of the rivets in the forward, top, and side panels of the nose wheel well (NWW) for discrepancies; and follow-on inspections and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment also provides eventual terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this AD are intended to find and fix discrepancies of the rivets in the NWW panels, which could result in failure of the rivets and consequent reduced structural integrity of the panels and rapid depressurization of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.