Summary
We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-20- 11, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes. AD 2006-20-11 currently requires initial and repetitive detailed or high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracks around the rivets at the upper fastener row of the skin lap splice of the fuselage, and repairing any crack found. Since we issued AD 2006-20-11, an evaluation done by the design approval holder (DAH) indicated that the fuselage skin lap splice is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would no longer allow the detailed inspections and would instead require repetitive external HFEC inspections for cracking of the skin lap splices of the fuselage, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking at certain skin lap splice locations of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity and rapid decompression of the airplane.