Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-400 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes. This action requires repetitive inspections of the doubler on the upper rudder pedal cover to determine whether it is securely bonded to the upper rudder pedal cover, and corrective action, if necessary. For airplanes on which the doubler is securely attached to the upper rudder pedal cover, this AD also provides for installation of two rivets to retain the doubler, as an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports that a disbonded doubler interfered with rudder pedal movement. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct disbonding of the doubler on the upper rudder pedal cover, which could result in restricted rudder pedal movement and reduced controllability of the airplane.