COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B727/147
Amdt 1
Fuselage Frames at BS 760.95, 783.95, 825.95 and 848.95
8/95
Applicability: All B727 aircraft, all models.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of Boeing Service Bulletin 727- 53-0197, Revision 2.
Note: FAA AD 94-02-04 Amdt 39-8802 refers.
Compliance: Before accumulating 12 000 flights or within 3000 flights from 27 April 1995, whichever occurs later.
Repeat the inspection at intervals not to exceed 6000 flights until modified in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 727-53-0197, Revision 2.
The changes introduced by this Amendment are effective from 20 July 1995.
Background: Reports have been received of cracks in subject frames which varied from 0.25 to 6.0 inches in length. Operation with cracked frames may reduce the structural integrity of the airframe. Amendment 1 references Boeing SB 727-53-0197, Revision 2, which increases the inspection area to include the outboard flange of frame 783.95 where cracks up to 6 inches long have been reported. Aircraft inspected or modified in accordance with SB 727-53-0197, initial issue or Revision 1 require extra work.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, form a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation. Part 39, which includes the Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the safety requirements for various aircraft types, such as the Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes. The problem these regulations aim to address includes the identification and rectification of potential structural failures, as evidenced by the introduction of AD/B727/147 Amendment 1, which responds to reports of cracks in certain fuselage frames of B727 aircraft. This directive mandates inspections and modifications to ensure the structural integrity of these aircraft, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Australian Parliament, oversees the implementation and enforcement of these directives to maintain high safety standards in the aviation industry. The policy objective is to prevent accidents and ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft by addressing known structural issues.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Boeing 727 series aeroplanes. This regulation mandates actions in line with the technical requirements outlined in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-53-0197, Revision 2, to address identified issues with fuselage frames at specific locations. Compliance necessitates that inspections and required actions be completed before the aircraft accumulates 12,000 flights or within 3000 flights from 27 April 1995, whichever is later. Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 6000 flights until the aircraft is modified according to the specified service bulletin. These directives are integral to ensuring the structural integrity of the aircraft and maintaining safety standards in line with both Australian and international aviation regulations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (subsections 39.105.1 through 39.105.4), mandate that all Boeing 727 series aeroplanes must adhere to certain airworthiness directives. The requirement in question, AD/B727/147 Amendment 1, pertains to the fuselage frames at BS 760.95, 783.95, 825.95, and 848.958/95. These directives are designed to address reports of cracks in these frames which could potentially compromise the aircraft's structural integrity. Compliance with these directives is mandatory for all B727 models and requires actions to be taken in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-53-0197, Revision 2. This bulletin was referenced in FAA AD 94-02-04 Amendment 39-8802.
The obligations imposed by these regulations are clear and specific. Operators of Boeing 727 aircraft must ensure that the required inspections and modifications are conducted within the stipulated timeframes. Specifically, an initial inspection must be carried out before the aircraft accumulates 12,000 flights or within 3,000 flights from 27 April 1995, whichever occurs later. Following this initial inspection, further inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 6,000 flights until the aircraft is modified in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 727-53-0197, Revision 2. The changes introduced by Amendment 1 are effective from 20 July 1995. Aircraft that have already been inspected or modified under the initial issue or Revision 1 of SB 727-53-0197 will need additional work to meet the requirements of this amendment.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives can result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could lead to imprisonment. The exact penalties are determined by the severity of the breach and are set out in other sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. It is crucial for operators to adhere strictly to these directives to avoid any legal repercussions.