Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757-200 and -200CB series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the lap splices at stringer S-14R, lower fastener row, are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires external dual frequency eddy current (DFEC) or internal high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the lap splice, inner skin fasteners, at stringer S-14R, station (STA) 440 through STA 540, and corrective action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage skin lap splice. Such cracking could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.