COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B727/152 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/B727/152
Amdt 1
Rear Spar Web Between Right and Left BBL 40 11/2000
Applicability: Model 727 series aircraft with line numbers 858 through 864, 867 through 869, 872
through 883, and 885 through 1832.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-14-07 Amdt 39-11816.
Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 727-57A0182 and 727-57A0182 Revision 1 refer.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document for the repetitive inspection and modification requirements; with a revised effective date of 2 November 2000.
This Amendment becomes effective on 2 November 2000.
Background: The FAA received reports indicating that fuel leakage of the wing centre section had occurred on several Model 727 aircraft due to cracking of the rear spar web of the wing centre section. The cracking initiates on the forward side of the spar and propagates through the web at the upper machined land radius between right and left Body Buttock Line 40.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires accomplishment of the previously optional terminating action.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 26 March 1998.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 September 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, serve as a cornerstone of aviation safety regulation in Australia, providing a comprehensive framework to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. One specific aspect of these regulations, the Airworthiness Directives (ADs), addresses the identification and rectification of safety issues in aircraft. The AD for Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes, particularly AD/B727/152 Amendment 1, was introduced to address a critical safety concern involving the cracking of the rear spar web in the wing centre section of certain Boeing 727 aircraft. This issue posed a significant risk of fuel leakage, which could potentially lead to catastrophic failure mid-flight. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), acting as the delegate, revoked the previous AD and issued this directive to mandate specific inspections and modifications, aligning with the technical requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of affected aircraft. This legislative action aims to mitigate safety risks and maintain high standards of aviation safety in Australia.
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 certain Boeing 727 series aircraft. This legislative instrument mandates specific actions to be taken to rectify unsafe conditions in the aircraft. The directive applies to Boeing 727 series aeroplanes with line numbers 858 through 864, 867 through 869, 872 through 883, and 885 through 1832. The directive requires an inspection of the rear spar web between right and left Body Buttock Line 40 in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-14-07 Amdt 39-11816, with references to Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 727-57A0182 and its revision. Compliance with the directive must be achieved by the specified dates outlined in the requirement document for repetitive inspection and modification, with the effective date of the amendment set for 2 November 2000. This directive is part of a broader regulatory framework designed to ensure the safety and airworthiness of civil aviation in Australia, with its application extending to specific aircraft types as defined within the regulations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for Boeing 727 series aeroplanes. This AD, numbered AD/B727/152 Amendment 1, pertains to the inspection and potential modification of the rear spar web between Right and Left Body Buttock Line 40 (BBL 40) of certain Model 727 aircraft. The directive applies to aircraft with line numbers 858 through 864, 867 through 869, 872 through 883, and 885 through 1832 (Applicability section). The directive mandates that inspections be conducted in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 2000-14-07 Amendment 39-11816 (Requirement section). Compliance with this directive must be achieved in line with the specified repetitive inspection and modification requirements, with an effective date set for 2 November 2000 (Compliance section).
The obligations imposed by this AD require the operators and maintenance personnel of the affected Boeing 727 series aircraft to adhere to the specified inspection and modification procedures. These procedures are designed to ensure that the rear spar web of the wing centre section is checked for any signs of cracking, particularly at the upper machined land radius between Right and Left BBL 40. This inspection is crucial as it directly addresses the unsafe condition identified in the background section, which involves fuel leakage due to cracking of the rear spar web. Failure to comply with the AD could result in the aircraft not meeting the required airworthiness standards, potentially leading to safety risks.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD can lead to significant consequences. The AD does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties within the text, but non-compliance with CASA directives can generally result in enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988. These actions can include fines, orders for corrective action, and in severe cases, the grounding of the aircraft. The penalties for non-compliance can vary depending on the severity and frequency of the violation but can include substantial financial penalties and potential criminal charges for individuals responsible for the oversight.