## EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

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### Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U,S. Department :O~CURRENns ~ of Transportation "OU'm<G '''."eOl Federal Aviatio 

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# i>S Administration NITI \Vcpost Emergency ADson the internet at ,,\\,\,,\,'.faa.gov" ISSUE DATE: March 12,2010 AD 2010-06-5.1; Docket No. FAA-2010-0230; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-071-AD 

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# Mr'-V Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-06-51 is sent to all owners and operators

# fb: Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -70De, -800, -900, and -90GER series airplanes. Background The FAA received areport offailure ofthe aft attach lugs on the left elevator tab control mechanism, which resulted ill severe elevator vibration. The tlightcrew diverted from the intende ,~ route and made an uneventful landing. Subsequent investigation revealed extensive damage to the DA" / / elevator tab control system. Severe vibration inthis attach point is suspected ofalJowing rapid we' 

## rJr/12/ 10 thejOint, <mdresulted infailure ofthe attach lugs. This condition, ifnot corrected, could result in

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### t: INITIALS'."" Explanation ofRelevant Service Information We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-27A1296, dated March 12, 20IO. Th OllrlNGSYMOOL service bulletin describes procedures for adetailed inspection to detect discrepancies ofthe inboar and 

# "'''''oP1 outboard aft attach lugs ofthe elevator tab control mechanism. Discrepancies include movement 0 ,'ITlA'_'IOI rotation ofthe spacer, and gaps between the swage riug and the aft attach lug orbetween the spacel anctG~ the aft attach lug. The service bulletin dcsclibes procedures for replacing any discrepant elevator t' 1'1'.'6./ ;; controlmccbanism, including performing the detailed inspection on the replacement part before an 1'2 / <0 after instal1atiOll. For certain airplanes, the compliance time forthe illspection is 12or 30 days, 

## ~<JUTA';~M "II~ depending on airplane line number, total accumulated flight cycles, and approval foroperation und , TI~"SIG extended twin operations (ETOPS), 

### f"\.., FAA's Determination and Requirements ofthis AD
ROlJTINGSI'MIIOL We have evaluated allpertinent infonnation and identified an unsafe condition that is likel~ to 

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# IOI exist or develop on other airplanes ofthis same type design. Therefore, we are issuing this AD to 

# NlTIAI.S£O--. detect and correct a loose bearing inthe aft lugofthe elevator tab control mechanism, which could 1'10· result inunwanted elevator and tab vibration. The consequent structural failure oftile elevator or 

### 3 /2- horizontal stabilizer could result in loss ofaircraft control and structural integrity, This AD requir UTI"GSVMI)OI. /'0 accomplishing the actions specified inthe service infonnation described previously, except as 

### ftI.JY'I\.-Il7b discussed under "Differences Betv,reenthis AD and the Service Bulletin." This AD also requires INITI,"..s,·IG reporting the inspection results to Boeing, 

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## EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

Background Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-06-51 is sent to all owners and operators of Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -90GER series airplanes. ISSUE DATE: March 12,2010 AD 2010-06-51; Docket No. FAA-2010-0230; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-071-AD 1n'1N(;S\"MIl()~

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# ;Thll~ I~Cl/O u.s. Department of Transportation Federal Aviatio Administration \Ve post Emergency ADs on the internet at "www.faa.gov" 

### Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

The FAA received areport offailure ofthe aft attach lugs on the left elevator tab control mechanism, which resulted in severe elevator vibration. The flightcrew diverted from the intended route and made an uneventful landing. Subsequent investigation revealed extensive damage to the elevalor tab control system. Severe vibration inthis attach point is suspected ofallowing rapid we thejoint, and resulted in failure ofthe attach lugs. This condition, ifnot corrected, could result in loss ofaircraft control and structural integrity. INITIAlSIStU


### of l;nSGS\·MIlO~ Explanation ofRelevant Service Information We have reviewed Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-27A1296, dated March 12, 2010. Th ll>lITlNl:>S\1>lIlO~ service bulletin describes procedures for adetailed inspection to detect discrepancies ofthe inboar and outboard aft attach lugs ofthe elevator tab control mechanism. Discrepancies include movement 0 NlmlS'SKl rotation oftile spacer, and gaps between the swage ring and the aft attach lug orbetween the spacer and the aft attach lug. The service bulletin describes procedures forreplacing any discrepant elevator t Am conlrol mechanism, including perfonning the detailed inspection 00 the replacement part before an

•. . • •• •• ROUrl~G ~""U(l~ after 1\)5tallatl011.For certa1llairplanes, the compliance tIme fortbe mspectl0n IS 12 or 30 days, depending on airplane line number, total accumulated flight cycles, and approval foroperation und mAl.i/SIG extended twin operations (ETOPS). F' AA's Determination and Requirements ofthis AD
1I11NG sv •• oo~ We have evaluated all pertinent in[omlation and identified an unsafe condition that is likel 10 exist or develop on other airplanes ofthis same type design. Therefore, we are issuing this AD to detect and correct a loose bearing inthe aft lug ofthe elevator tab control mechanism, which could Th result inumvanted elevator and tab vibration. The consequent structural failure ofthe elevator or horizontal stabilizer could result in loss ofaircraft control and structural integrity. This AD requir accomplishing the actions specifledin the service infonnation described previously, except as discussed under "Differences Between this AD and the Service Bulletin." This AD also requires reporting the inspection results to Boeing. ~ SV"IlO~