Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing Company Airplanes

We are superseding Airworthiness Directives (ADs) AD 2000-17- 05 and AD 2001-04-09 for all the Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. AD 2000-17-05 required a functional check of the shear rivets in all six elevator power control actuator (PCA) bellcrank assemblies to determine the condition of the shear rivets; and replacement or rework of the bellcrank assemblies, if necessary. AD 2001-04-09 required repetitive testing of the elevator control system to determine if an elevator PCA is rigged incorrectly due to yielded or failed shear rivets in a bellcrank assembly for the elevator PCA, and follow-on actions if necessary. Since we issued ADs 2000-17-05 and 2001-04-09, a terminating modification has been designed. This new AD requires an inspection to determine the part numbers and condition of the bellcrank assemblies; modification or replacement of the PCA bellcrank assembly, if necessary; and a repetitive functional test and mis-rig check, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent continued operation with yielded or failed shear rivets in the elevator PCA bellcrank assemblies, and to prevent certain failures or jams in the elevator system from causing a hardover of the elevator surface, resulting in a significant pitch upset and possible loss of control of the airplane.