COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 737 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/B737/127 Amdt 1 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/B737/127
Amdt 2
Elevator Tab Push Rod Attachment 1/2001
Applicability: Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft, line numbers 1
through 2939.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-19-05 Amdt 39-11906.
Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-27A1205 and Service Letter 737-SL-27-118- D refer.
Compliance: Within 24 months or 4,000 cycles after 25 January 2001, whichever occurs first.
This amendment becomes effective 25 January 2001.
Background: The FAA received two reports indicating that excessive high frequency airframe vibration occurred during flight on Model 737-200 and 737-300 series aircraft, which resulted in severe damage to the elevator, elevator tab, and elevator tab control mechanism. The actions specified in this Directive are intended to prevent detachment of an elevator tab pushrod due to a detached nut at either end attachment of a push rod.
Amendment 1 added a requirement to replace all existing bolts and attachment nuts at the forward and aft end attachment of each elevator tab push rod with new bolts and self-locking castellated nuts with cotter pins.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a correction of the Requirement document which changes the compliance calendar time from 12 months to 24 months.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 28 December 2000.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 20 May 1999.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 December 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 20 December 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), established Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. One such directive, AD/B737/127 Amdt 2, specifically targets the Boeing 737 Series aeroplanes, addressing an issue identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) involving excessive airframe vibrations that led to severe damage to critical flight control components. The directive mandates corrective actions to prevent detachment of elevator tab push rods, a problem observed on certain Boeing 737 models. The policy objective of this directive is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation by ensuring compliance with stringent airworthiness standards. The amendment to the original directive extends the compliance period from 12 months to 24 months, reflecting a more thorough approach to rectifying the identified safety concern.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, govern the safety standards and requirements for civil aviation within Australia. This regulation applies to the Boeing 737 series aeroplanes, including the Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500, within the specified line numbers. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) to address identified safety concerns, ensuring that operators maintain their aircraft to a certain safety standard. The ADs are binding and must be complied with within the stipulated timeframes, typically measured in months or flight cycles. The scope of this particular AD mandates corrective action to prevent the detachment of an elevator tab push rod due to a detached nut at the attachment ends. This requirement aligns with the technical specifications provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and references Boeing's service bulletins and letters for further guidance. Compliance with the directive is mandatory for all applicable aircraft within the specified period, which in this case is within 24 months or 4,000 cycles after 25 January 2001, whichever comes first.
Key Provisions
The key sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) focus on the applicability, requirements, and compliance timelines for Boeing 737 series aeroplanes, particularly addressing elevator tab push rod attachments (AD/B737/127 Amdt 2). The applicability section (AD/B737/127 Amdt 2) specifies that this directive applies to Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft, line numbers 1 through 2939. The requirement section mandates that the action be taken in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-19-05 Amdt 39-11906. Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-27A1205 and Service Letter 737-SL-27-118-D also reference this directive.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the entities it governs. Primarily, it requires that any affected Boeing 737 series aircraft must comply with the action stipulated in the requirement section. This involves ensuring that the elevator tab pushrod attachment is addressed in a timely manner. Specifically, the directive requires that the existing bolts and attachment nuts at both the forward and aft ends of each elevator tab pushrod be replaced with new bolts and self-locking castellated nuts, secured with cotter pins. This action aims to prevent the detachment of an elevator tab pushrod due to a detached nut at either end attachment, which could result in excessive high-frequency airframe vibration and severe damage to the elevator system.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant legal and safety consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with ADs is generally taken very seriously under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose fines, suspension, or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and in severe cases, criminal charges could be pursued. The maximum penalties for breaches can include substantial fines and imprisonment, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to such safety directives. Ensuring compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a matter of public safety, given the potential catastrophic consequences of in-flight structural failures.