AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/145 and issues the following 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 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/145
Amdt 1
Flightcrew Seat Locks and Seat Tracks 5/2004
Applicability: Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series aircraft, equipped with IPECO flightcrew seats; as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1, dated 28 March 2002.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2004-04-03 Amdt 39-13483.
Compliance: For Group 1 aircraft listed in ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1: Before 10 November 2000; in accordance with ASB 737-25A1363. For Group 2 aircraft listed in ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1:
Within 90 days after 13 May 2004; in accordance with ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1.
The compliance time remains unchanged for Group 1 aircraft. This Amendment becomes effective on 13 May 2004.
Background: The FAA received reports of instances of the pilot seat sliding to the aft-most position during acceleration and take-off on certain Model 737 series aircraft. Investigation revealed that the screws attaching the rear tracklock bracket to the seat track had broken, allowing excessive lateral movement and disengagement of the locking pin from the floor-mounted seat track.
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/145 Amdt 1 (continued)
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD, which revises applicability of the existing AD by adding aircraft with the introduction of Revision 1 of the related service bulletin.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 April 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 April 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/145 Amendment 1 in 2004 to address safety concerns associated with Boeing 737 series aircraft, specifically models 737-300, -400, and -500 equipped with IPECO flightcrew seats. This AD was enacted to rectify an unsafe condition identified in the flightcrew seat locks and seat tracks, which had caused the pilot seat to slide to the aft-most position during acceleration and take-off due to broken screws and excessive lateral movement. The policy objective of this AD is to ensure the safety of flight operations by mandating inspections and corrective actions in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) AD 2004-04-03 Amendment 39-13483. This directive was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and aims to harmonise with international safety standards and improve the overall airworthiness of the specified aircraft.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Boeing 737 series aircraft specifically the 737-300, -400, and -500 models, which are equipped with IPECO flightcrew seats. The directive was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a measure to address safety concerns identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The AD mandates inspections in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2004-04-03 Amdt 39-13483, specifically targeting issues related to the flightcrew seat locks and seat tracks. The geographic reach of this legislation is the Commonwealth of Australia, as CASA is the governing body for civil aviation safety in Australia. The AD applies to aircraft listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1, with compliance times varying for different groups of aircraft. This directive extends its application through subordinate instruments such as the referenced FAA AD and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) primarily targets Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series aircraft equipped with IPECO flightcrew seats, as specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1. The AD mandates inspections to address a specific safety concern related to the flightcrew seats’ locking mechanisms (Section 5/2004). The requirement for inspection aligns with the technical guidelines outlined in FAA AD 2004-04-03 Amdt 39-13483.
The AD imposes obligations on the aircraft operators and maintenance entities to ensure that the specified inspections are carried out in accordance with the instructions provided. For Group 1 aircraft listed in ASB 737-25A1363 Revision 1, the inspection must be completed before 10 November 2000. For Group 2 aircraft, the inspection must occur within 90 days after 13 May 2004. The compliance period for Group 1 aircraft remains unchanged, but the AD becomes effective on 13 May 2004 for all applicable aircraft.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in the AD may result in serious safety implications. The AD was issued in response to reports of pilot seats sliding to the aft-most position during acceleration and take-off, which were found to be due to broken screws in the seat locking mechanisms. This condition could potentially lead to severe consequences during critical phases of flight, including take-off and landing. The AD is designed to mitigate these risks by enforcing necessary inspections and repairs.
The AD carries legal implications for non-compliance. While specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the AD itself, breaches of airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory measures to ensure compliance and maintain the safety standards required by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The seriousness of the potential safety issues addressed by the AD underscores the importance of strict adherence to the compliance deadlines and inspection requirements.