Summary
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for corrosion or missing corrosion inhibiting compound of the fuselage skin under the forward and aft wing-to-body fairings for certain airplanes, or the fuselage skin under the forward wing-to-body fairings only for other airplanes; and corrective action if necessary. The proposed AD would also provide an optional preventive modification of the wing-to-body fairing panels, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from several reports indicating that significant levels of corrosion were found on the external surface of the fuselage skin under the forward and aft wing-to-body fairings. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion, and prevent subsequent fatigue cracks, on the fuselage skin under the forward and aft wing-to-body fairings, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.