Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Airplanes Equipped With Rolls Royce RB211-535E Engines

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes equipped with Rolls Royce RB211-535E engines. This AD requires repetitive inspections for signs of damage of the aft hinge fittings and attachment bolts of the thrust reversers, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of several incidents of bolt failure at the aft hinge fittings of the thrust reversers due to, among other things, high operational loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the attachment bolts and consequent separation of a thrust reverser from the airplane during flight, which could result in structural damage to the airplane.