AD FAA-2023-2003

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of operators finding frequent and severe damage to the blowout vent grilles throughout the lower lobe cargo compartment. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of certain decompression panels and pressure equalization valves, as applicable, in the forward and aft lower lobe cargo compartments for damage, and applicable on- condition actions. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires installation of decompression panels with billet grilles. For other certain airplanes, this AD also requires replacement of a certain soft bulkhead with a rigid bulkhead. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires installation of doublers to a certain bulkhead assembly panel. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.