Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-100, -200, and -200C Series Airplanes

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, and -200C series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies in the upper and lower skins of the fuselage lap joint, and repair if necessary. This amendment adds new inspections, reduces the repetitive inspection intervals for certain airplanes, and mandates a terminating modification. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct discrepancies in the upper and lower skins of the fuselage lap joint and circumferential joint, which could result in sudden fracture and failure of a lap joint or circumferential joint and rapid decompression of the airplane fuselage. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.