Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP Series Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead for indications of "oil cans" and previous oil can repairs, and corrective actions if necessary. An oil can is an area on a pressure dome web that moves when pushed from the forward side. This new AD requires a reduced compliance time for the initial detailed inspection and revises the applicability. This AD results from a report that cracks in oil-canned areas were found during an inspection of the aft pressure bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct the propagation of fatigue cracks in the vicinity of oil cans on the web of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane and overpressurization of the tail section, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.