Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-26-06 for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce engines. AD 2006-26-06 required repetitive inspections to detect cracks of the outer V-blades of the thrust reverser, and corrective action if necessary. AD 2006-26-06 also provided for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This new AD adds, for airplanes on which the optional terminating action is done, repetitive inspections for cracking in the outer V-blade fittings of the hinge beam and latch beam ends of each thrust reverser half, and replacement of an affected thrust reverser half if necessary. This new AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked outer V- blade fittings at the hinge beam end of Rolls-Royce engine thrust reversers, on airplanes on which the optional terminating action was done. We are issuing this AD to prevent separation of a thrust reverser from the airplane during normal reverse thrust or during a refused takeoff, which could result in unexpected thrust asymmetry and a possible runway excursion.