Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate civil aviation safety and establish standards for airworthiness. One specific regulation under this Act is the Airworthiness Directive AD/B737/126, which was introduced to address safety concerns associated with Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes. This directive pertains to the critical issue of broken bolts that attach terminal support fittings to the Body Station 1088 bulkhead. The potential consequence of such a failure is a reduction in the structural integrity of the vertical fin installation, which could lead to the loss of the vertical fin. The directive mandates compliance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 99-04-23 Amdt 39-11048 and references Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1107 for specific inspection and action procedures. The Airworthiness Directive became effective on 20 May 1999, underscoring the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to model 737-100, -200, and -300 series aircraft, specifically those with line numbers from 1 through 1485.5/99. The directive mandates action in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 99-04-23 Amdt 39-11048, referencing Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1107. Compliance with the directive requires adherence to the specified requirements in the Requirement Document for the initial and repeat inspections or actions. This Airworthiness Directive came into effect on 20 May 1999. It is crucial for operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the bolts attaching the terminal support fittings to the upper part of the Body Station 1088 bulkhead are inspected and addressed to maintain the structural integrity of the vertical fin installation and prevent potential loss of the vertical fin.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in PART 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically address Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes through AD/B737/126. This directive pertains to the Body Station 1088 Bulkhead Terminal Support Fitting Bolts (section 1). The primary requirement outlined in the directive is that the technical specifications of FAA AD 99-04-23 Amdt 39-11048 must be adhered to (section 2). Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1107 also provides relevant information that should be considered during compliance (section 3). This Airworthiness Directive applies to Model 737-100, -200, and -300 series aircraft, with line numbers ranging from 1 through 1485.5/99 (section 4). The directive mandates that specific actions must be taken in accordance with the detailed requirements set out in the Requirement Document, which includes both initial and repeat inspections and actions (section 5). The directive became effective on 20 May 1999, establishing the date from which compliance was mandatory (section 6). The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties or entities it governs include ensuring that the specified inspections and actions are performed correctly and in a timely manner. Operators of the affected aircraft must follow the technical requirements of FAA AD 99-04-23 Amdt 39-11048 and consult Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53-1107 for additional guidance. The directive necessitates that these procedures be adhered to strictly to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance in this specific directive, but general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 may apply. These could include fines, legal action, or other regulatory penalties. In severe cases, non-compliance could result in the grounding of the aircraft, which would have significant operational and financial implications for the operators.