Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to establish comprehensive regulations governing the operation of civil aviation in Australia. One of the critical instruments under these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). AD/B717/3, issued in 2001, addresses the issue of potential breakage of the spoiler hold-down actuator rod ends on Boeing 717 series aeroplanes, specifically those with fuselage numbers between 5004 and 5036. The directive mandates repetitive inspections and eventual replacement of the rod ends to prevent the risk of fatigue failure, which could compromise the back-up protection of the spoiler float hold-down and the monitoring of uncommanded spoiler movement, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The directive aligns with the policy objective of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation by mandating corrective actions based on technical requirements and guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive AD/B717/3, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targets the Boeing 717 series aeroplanes with manufacturers' fuselage numbers ranging from 5004 through 5036. This regulatory directive mandates the implementation of actions to rectify a safety issue identified with the spoiler hold-down actuator rod ends, requiring repetitive inspections and eventual replacement of the rod ends with new ones. The directive applies to these specified aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring compliance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2001-17-21 Amdt39-12412, as referenced in Boeing Service Bulletins 717-27A0010, 717-27-0013, and 717-27-0013 Revision 01. Failure to comply with the directive could lead to a loss of the back-up protection of the spoiler float hold-down and the unavailability of monitoring for uncommanded spoiler movement. The directive became effective on 29 November 2001 and was gazetted in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 7 November 2001.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under section 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) mandates specific actions to address safety concerns identified with Boeing 717 series aeroplanes, specifically those with fuselage numbers 5004 through 5036. The directive requires repetitive inspections of the spoiler hold-down actuator rod ends for signs of breakage, and mandates eventual replacement of the rod ends with new ones, as per the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2001-17-21 Amdt39-12412 (section 12/2001). Additionally, it requires re-identification of the spoiler hold-down actuators, which marks the conclusion of the repetitive inspections. This directive was issued to mitigate the risk of fatigue-related failures, which could compromise the back-up protection of the spoiler float hold-down and monitoring for uncommanded spoiler movement. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. Primarily, it requires the aircraft operators or owners to conduct regular inspections of the spoiler hold-down actuator rod ends to ensure they are not exhibiting signs of fatigue or breakage. These inspections must be carried out in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in the requirement section of the directive. Failure to comply with these inspection protocols could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. Furthermore, the directive mandates that any identified issues be addressed promptly by replacing the faulty rod ends and re-identifying the spoiler hold-down actuators, ensuring that the aircraft meets the necessary safety standards. Breach of the provisions outlined in the AD can lead to serious consequences. Under section 39.1(1) of CAR 1998, failure to comply with the AD can result in the aircraft being grounded, effectively rendering it unairworthy. This non-compliance can attract both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines up to a maximum of $22,200 per offence, as stipulated under section 106 of CAR 1998. Moreover, in cases where the non-compliance is deemed to have caused a significant safety risk, criminal charges could be brought against the responsible parties, potentially resulting in imprisonment for up to five years as per section 107 of CAR 1998. It is imperative for all governed entities to adhere strictly to the requirements of the AD to avoid these severe consequences.