Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations includes Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure aircraft meet safety standards. The AD/B717/8 pertains to the Boeing 717 Series aeroplanes, mandating modifications to the upper centre fuselage longerons to prevent fatigue cracking, which could compromise the structural integrity of the fuselage. This directive was issued on 7 August 2003, requiring compliance within 10 years or 30,000 total flight cycles, whichever comes first, following the identification of potential safety risks by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The policy objective behind this AD is to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft by mitigating the risk of structural failure due to fatigue cracking.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operations within Australia. This particular directive, AD/B717/8, applies to Boeing 717-200 aircraft with manufacturer's fuselage numbers ranging from 5001 to 5056. The directive requires modifications to the longeron to frame installation of the upper centre fuselage between specified stations to prevent fatigue cracking, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The modifications must be made in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-53-0001, dated 20 March 2001, and must be completed before the aircraft accumulates 30,000 total flight cycles or within 10 years after the directive's effective date of 7 August 2003, whichever comes first. This directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, aligning with national aviation safety standards and ensuring that all affected aircraft meet the specified safety requirements.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, sets forth an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes, known as AD/B717/8. This directive applies to Model 717-200 aircraft with manufacturer’s fuselage numbers ranging from 5001 to 5056. The directive mandates that the upper centre fuselage longeron to frame installation between stations Y=655.000 and Y=813.000, specifically at longerons L-5L to L-5R, must be modified. This modification includes the fabrication of angles and the installation of support angles and doublers. The required modifications are to be carried out in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-53-0001, dated 20 March 2001. This modification aims to prevent fatigue cracking of the longerons, which could compromise the structural integrity of the fuselage. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties governed by it. Firstly, the owner or operator of the affected Boeing 717-200 aircraft must ensure that the specified modifications are made to the upper centre fuselage longerons. The modifications must be carried out by authorised personnel in compliance with the instructions outlined in Boeing Service Bulletin 717-53-0001. Additionally, the compliance with this directive must be achieved within a specific timeframe: either before the aircraft accumulates 30,000 total flight cycles or within 10 years from 7 August 2003, whichever occurs first. This timeframe ensures that the modifications are completed in a timely manner to mitigate any potential safety risks. Breach of the requirements set out in the AD may result in significant consequences. While the specific legal consequences are not detailed in the AD, it is reasonable to infer that failure to comply with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include administrative penalties, fines, or more severe sanctions such as grounding of the aircraft. Additionally, operators who fail to adhere to ADs may face liability for any incidents or accidents that arise due to non-compliance. The potential penalties and consequences underscore the importance of strict adherence to the directives to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.