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 CASR 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/B727/193 Cargo Restraint Strap Assemblies 1/2005
DM
Applicability: Model 727 series aircraft, on which cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS have been installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY.
Requirement: Revise the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), and the cargo- loading procedures of the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM), to include the following information (this may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the AFM and the WBM):
“Discontinue the use of STC ST01004NY to install Airline Container Manufacturing Company Inc., cargo restraint straps, part number 1519-MCIDS, as the only means of securing cargo to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C90c/NAS3610 pallets. Such cargo restraint straps may continue to be used a supplemental restraints to secure cargo to TSO C90c/NAS3610 pallets, or to the cargo restraint fittings in the aircraft floor, per the aircraft manufacturer’s weight and balance manuals, and within the strap rated load (5,000 lbs).”
Note 1: If the above statement has been incorporated into the general revisions of the AFM and the WBM, the general revisions may be incorporated into the AFM and WBM, and the copy of this Directive may then be removed from the AFM and WBM.
Note 2: FAA AD 2004-22-01 Amdt 39-13829 refers.
Compliance: Within 14 days after 1 December 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 December 2004.
Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B727/193 (continued)
Background: The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent shifting or unrestrained cargo in the cargo compartment, which could cause an unexpected change in the aircraft’s centre of gravity, damage to the aircraft structure and/or flight control system, a hazard to the flightcrew, and/or possible loss of controllability of the aircraft.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 November 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 1 December 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B727/193 on 24 November 2004, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998). This directive was introduced to address safety concerns regarding the use of certain cargo restraint strap assemblies in Boeing 727 series aircraft. Specifically, the AD pertains to Model 727 series aircraft equipped with cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS installed via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY. The primary objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of shifting or unrestrained cargo in the cargo compartment, which could result in significant safety issues, including an unexpected change in the aircraft’s centre of gravity, potential damage to the aircraft structure and/or flight control system, hazards to the flightcrew, and possible loss of controllability. The AD mandates revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) to ensure cargo restraint straps are used appropriately, with clear instructions on their limitations and acceptable usage scenarios.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Boeing 727 series aeroplanes equipped with cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY. This directive is issued to address safety concerns regarding cargo restraint practices and is applicable nationwide across the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that the operators of affected aircraft revise their Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) to incorporate the specified modifications, ensuring that the cargo restraint straps are no longer used as the sole means of securing cargo to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C90c/NAS3610 pallets, but can still be used as supplemental restraints within their rated load limits. Operators must comply with these changes within 14 days of 1 December 2004, the date from which the directive became effective. The directive does not exclude any entities or industries but is specifically targeted at ensuring the safe operation of the mentioned aircraft models.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections (sections 1, 2, and 3 respectively). The AD applies to Boeing 727 series aircraft that have had cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY (section 1). The requirement section mandates that the limitations section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and the cargo loading procedures of the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) be revised to include specific information regarding the use of the cargo restraint straps (section 2). The compliance section states that these revisions must be made within 14 days of 1 December 2004 (section 3).
The AD imposes obligations on the owners and operators of Boeing 727 series aircraft that have had the specified cargo restraint strap assemblies installed. They must revise the AFM and WBM as required, ensuring that the cargo restraint straps are no longer used as the only means of securing cargo to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C90c/NAS3610 pallets (section 2). The AD also requires that the cargo restraint straps may only be used as supplemental restraints within the specified limits (section 2). These revisions must be made within the compliance timeframe (section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy. This could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), potentially including fines, suspension, or revocation of the aircraft’s certificate of airworthiness. The specific consequences and penalties for non-compliance are determined by the relevant aviation regulations and could include significant financial penalties and operational restrictions.