Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-05-02 for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2014-05-02 required repetitive inspections for cracking and corrosion of the aft pressure bulkhead, repetitive inspections of the frame chord drain path for debris, and corrective actions if necessary; and, for certain airplanes, enlargement of frame chord drain holes. This AD requires the same actions as AD 2014-05-02, but revises a certain repetitive inspection interval to avoid a misunderstanding of the repetitive inspection interval for the aft pressure bulkhead. This AD was prompted by reports from operators expressing confusion regarding a certain repetitive inspection interval for the aft pressure bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion or cracking of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in loss of the aft pressure bulkhead web and stiffeners, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.