Summary
We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100 and -200 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires replacement of certain underwing fuel tank access covers with stronger, fire-resistant covers. Since we issued that AD, we received reports of standard access doors installed where impact resistant access doors are required and reports of impact resistant doors without stencils. This proposed AD would require inspecting fuel tank access doors to determine that impact resistant access doors are installed in the correct locations, inspecting application of stencils and index markers of impact resistant access doors, corrective actions if necessary, revising the maintenance program, and adding airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to prevent foreign object penetration of the wing tank, which could lead to a fuel leak near ignition sources (engine, hot brakes), consequently leadingto a fuel-fed fire.