Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/B717/12 in 2004 to address specific safety concerns identified with the auxiliary hydraulic pump electric motor and associated wiring in Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes. This directive was enacted to mitigate the risk of failures in the auxiliary hydraulic pump's electric motor and wiring, which could lead to fires and consequential damage to adjacent electrical equipment and structure. The directive mandates inspections and corrective actions to be performed by operators of Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes within specified timeframes to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. This Airworthiness Directive is a legislative instrument issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and its objective is to enhance the safety of aircraft operations by addressing potential hazards associated with the auxiliary hydraulic pump systems in Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes. The directive references Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717-29A0005 and aligns with Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Directive 2004-01-15 Amdt 39-13429. The directive became effective on 18 March 2004 and was subsequently notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 February 2004.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes with manufacturer's fuselage numbers ranging from 5002 to 5200 inclusive. This legislative instrument mandates certain actions to be undertaken to address an identified unsafe condition related to the auxiliary hydraulic pump electric motor. The directive requires operators to inspect the electric motor of the auxiliary hydraulic pump for electrical resistance, continuity, and mechanical rotation, along with associated wiring resistance/voltage, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 717-29A0005 dated 31 July 2002. If any pump motor fails the inspection, it must be replaced with a serviceable pump, and if any wiring fails, it must be troubleshooted and repaired following the same bulletin. The directive stipulates that these inspections and corrective actions must occur before the accumulation of 3,000 total hours of time in service or within 12 months after the effective date of the directive, whichever comes later, and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 5,000 hours of time in service. The AD extends its application across the Commonwealth of Australia and is effective as of 18 March 2004.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to Model 717-200 aeroplanes, specifically those with manufacturer's fuselage numbers ranging from 5002 to 5200. The AD mandates a series of inspections and corrective actions to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft in relation to the auxiliary hydraulic pump electric motor and its associated wiring. Firstly, under section (1) of the requirement, it is necessary to inspect the electric motor of the auxiliary hydraulic pump for electrical resistance, continuity, and mechanical rotation, alongside the associated wiring resistance and voltage, in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 717-29A0005 dated 31 July 2002. Secondly, if any pump motor fails this inspection, it must be replaced with a serviceable pump, as stipulated in ASB 717-29A0005 (section 2). Thirdly, if any wiring fails the inspection, it must be troubleshooted and repaired in accordance with ASB 717-29A0005 (section 3). Operators and owners of the specified Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes are required to comply with the inspection and corrective actions outlined in the AD to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. This includes conducting the initial inspection prior to the accumulation of 3,000 total hours in service (TIS) or within 12 months after the effective date of this Directive, whichever occurs later, and repeating the inspection at intervals not exceeding 5,000 hours TIS. Additionally, any necessary corrective actions must be carried out before further flight after the inspection, as stipulated in the compliance section. Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in serious safety risks, as the directive aims to prevent failures of the electric motor of the auxiliary hydraulic pump and associated wiring, which could result in fire at the auxiliary hydraulic pump and consequent damage to adjacent electrical equipment and/or structure. While the AD does not explicitly state specific penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with ADs can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, suspension, or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, as well as potential civil or criminal liability for any resulting incidents or accidents.