COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B727/171 Escape Slide 12/2001
Applicability: Model 727-100 and -200 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-25- 0294, dated 25 May 2000.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 November 2001.
Background: The FAA requires modification of the escape slide latch assembly. The required action is intended to prevent failure of an escape slide to deploy or inflate correctly, which could result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 October 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 7 November 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, incorporates Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aim to address identified safety issues by requiring specific actions to be taken by aircraft operators. For instance, AD/B727/171, issued in December 2001, targets Boeing 727 series aircraft to rectify a potential unsafe condition with the escape slide latch assembly, aligning with the Federal Aviation Administration's directive to prevent deployment or inflation failures during emergency evacuations. This Airworthiness Directive was introduced to ensure compliance with international safety standards, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation within Australia.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, outlines mandatory actions to ensure the safety of civil aircraft operating within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes and mandates that specific modifications be made to the escape slide latch assembly of Model 727-100 and -200 series aircraft, as identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-25-0294 dated 25 May 2000. The directive requires compliance with the technical specifications of FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335 to address potential unsafe conditions that could hinder the proper deployment or inflation of escape slides during an emergency. The AD became effective on 29 November 2001, and its compliance instructions are to be followed as detailed in the requirement document. This legislative instrument applies to aircraft registered and operated within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under section 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies to Boeing 727-100 and -200 series aircraft as detailed in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-25-0294, dated 25 May 2000. The directive, AD/B727/171, mandates specific actions to rectify a potential unsafe condition regarding the escape slide latch assembly. This action is required to prevent the escape slide from failing to deploy or inflate correctly during an emergency, which could render the slide unusable. The directive instructs that the action be taken in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335, with the compliance timeline specified within the requirement document itself.
The AD imposes obligations on the operators of Boeing 727-100 and -200 series aircraft to ensure that the escape slide latch assembly modifications are performed as specified. Operators must adhere to the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335 to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to comply with the AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy and potentially subject to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in severe consequences. Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) section 91.403 states that an aircraft must not be flown if it does not comply with ADs. Consequently, non-compliance could lead to the aircraft being grounded, which in turn affects flight operations and potentially results in financial losses for the operator. Furthermore, CASA can take regulatory action, including fines, against operators who fail to comply with ADs. The potential penalties for non-compliance can be significant, underscoring the importance of adhering to the directive to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.