Summary
We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking in and around the upper and lower hinge cutouts of the forward entry and forward galley service doorways, and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have received multiple reports of cracks in the skin and/or bear strap at the forward galley service doorway hinge cutouts, and multiple reports of cracking under the repairs installed at the hinge cutouts. This proposed AD would reduce the inspection threshold for cracking in and around the galley service doorway hinge cutouts, add inspections of certain repaired structure at the forward entry and galley service doorway upper and lower hinge cutouts, expand the inspection area at the forward entry and galley service doorway upper and lower hinge cutouts, and remove certain airplanes from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.