FAA set to require inspections of more 737NG aft pressure bulkheads

The FAA seeks to subject hundreds of additional Boeing 737NGs to inspections following more reports of cracks in aft pressure bulkheads. The agency has issued a proposed airworthiness directive that expands on a 2005 order that addressed the same issue, but in a smaller number of 737NGs. The 2005 order responded to the risk of bulkhead cracks in 737NGs with manufacturing line numbers between one and 1,166. Specifically, cracks were “found during fatigue testing at several of the fastener rows in the web lap splices at the dome apex of the aft pressure bulkhead”, FAA documents say. The agency required airlines address the risk by completing eddy-current inspections. After the issue was discovered, Boeing sought to address the risk by adopting a “revised fastener pattern” when producing 737NGs. That pattern was used on 737NGs with line numbers from 1,167 to 1,755.<br/>