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/B727/179 Main Deck Cargo Door Hinge, Cargo Door System,
and Cargo Barrier - 3
11/2002
Applicability: Model 727 series aircraft that have been converted from a passenger to a cargo- carrying (“freighter”) configuration in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00015AT.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-16-21 Amdt 39-12860.
Note: Accomplishment of the actions in accordance with Kitty Hawk Service Bulletin KHA 727-004 Revision B, dated 3 March 1999, constitutes compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of the Requirement document.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document with a revised effective date of 31 October 2002.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 31 October 2002.
Background: The FAA has determined that the main deck cargo door hinge installed on conversion from a passenger carrying to a cargo carrying aircraft configuration, is not fail- safe; that certain main deck cargo door control systems do not provide an adequate level of safety; and that the main deck cargo barrier is not structurally adequate during an emergency landing.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 11 September 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 October 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need to maintain airworthiness standards to ensure the safety of civil aviation. This legislation provides the regulatory framework for the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety concerns identified with aircraft or aeronautical products. In this context, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues ADs to mandate corrective actions to be taken by aircraft operators to mitigate identified unsafe conditions. The AD in question pertains to the Boeing 727 series aircraft that have been converted from a passenger to a cargo-carrying configuration. The directive mandates actions to correct issues with the main deck cargo door hinge, cargo door system, and cargo barrier to ensure safety during operations. This legislative instrument aims to ensure compliance with internationally recognised safety standards, thereby addressing identified gaps in the safety of converted cargo aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, establish the scope and application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular AD, AD/B727/179, pertains to Boeing 727 series aircraft that have undergone conversion from a passenger to a cargo-carrying configuration in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00015AT. The directive mandates specific corrective actions concerning the main deck cargo door hinge, cargo door system, and cargo barrier to address identified safety concerns. These safety concerns include the risk of the main deck cargo door hinge not being fail-safe, inadequate safety levels in certain cargo door control systems, and insufficient structural adequacy of the main deck cargo barrier during emergency landings. Compliance with this AD is required in alignment with the technical directives set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 2002-16-21 Amdt 39-12860, and adherence to Kitty Hawk Service Bulletin KHA 727-004 Revision B dated 3 March 1999 is noted as a means of fulfilling these requirements. The AD was issued on 11 September 2002 and became effective on 31 October 2002, as notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 October 2002.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/B727/179, pertains to Boeing 727 series aeroplanes that have undergone conversion from passenger to cargo-carrying configurations in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00015AT. The AD requires specific actions to address identified safety issues, which include the main deck cargo door hinge, cargo door system, and cargo barrier. These actions must be carried out in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-16-21 Amdt 39-12860 and can be achieved by following Kitty Hawk Service Bulletin KHA 727-004 Revision B dated 3 March 1999. The directive mandates these actions to be performed by a specified compliance date, which is revised to 31 October 2002, as stated in the compliance section of the AD.
Entities governed by this AD, which includes aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must ensure that the specified actions are performed on applicable Boeing 727 series aircraft within the stipulated timeframe. This entails carrying out the necessary modifications or checks to the main deck cargo door hinge, cargo door system, and cargo barrier to address the identified safety issues. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thereby rendering it ineligible for operation until the required actions have been completed and verified.
Failure to adhere to the requirements of this AD can result in serious consequences. From a regulatory standpoint, non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This could include directives to ground the aircraft until the necessary actions are completed, fines, or other administrative penalties. Furthermore, operators failing to comply with this AD may face civil liabilities in the event of accidents or incidents resulting from the non-addressed safety issues. While the AD does not explicitly outline criminal penalties, severe safety breaches that lead to fatalities or significant damage could potentially result in criminal charges under relevant aviation safety laws.