Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fractured rudder pedal pushrod connecting bolts in a rudder pedal assembly. This AD requires repetitive replacements of the rudder pedal pushrod connecting bolts and repetitive inspections of the rudder pedal assembly bolt holes in each of the captain and the first officer rudder pedal assemblies, and if necessary, repair or replacement of worn rudder pedal assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent fracture of the rudder pedal pushrod connecting bolts during pedal use, which could result in large involuntary inputs to the rudder and nose-wheel steering and an asymmetric application of braking, if pedal brakes are applied, leading to a runway excursion.