The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a formal airworthiness directive requiring structural inspections of 471 US-registered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The mandate follows reports of cracking found in the bear strap located at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout.
The directive applies to specific MAX 8, MAX 9, and 737-8200 models. Regulators determined that these cracks could compromise the structural integrity of the fuselage by preventing principal structural elements from sustaining required limit loads. Operators are now required to perform inspections of the fuselage skin for existing repairs and carry out necessary on-condition actions.
Boeing previously outlined these inspection procedures in a bulletin dated December 2024. The FAA directive, which officially takes effect on September 10, 2026, aims to standardize the maintenance response. While the inspection process itself is relatively brief, requiring between one and four hours per aircraft, the mandate represents another maintenance requirement for operators already managing a separate proposed directive regarding passenger seat assemblies. Owners and operators should review the full Federal Register documentation to ensure compliance schedules are met.