AD/B737/148 Amdt 1 - Uncommanded Rudder

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) to address an identified safety issue with the Boeing 737 series aeroplanes. The directive, AD/B737/148 Amendment 1, issued on 17 June 2003 and published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003, was prompted by an inadequate procedure in the Aircraft Flight Manual for managing an uncommanded yaw or roll condition. The policy objective of the directive is to ensure that flight crews are properly informed about the necessary procedures to handle a jammed or restricted rudder, thereby enhancing the safety and control of the aircraft. The directive mandates that specific procedures, as outlined in FAA AD 2000-22-02 Amendment 39-11948, be incorporated into the Aircraft Flight Manual of applicable Boeing 737 series aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/148 Amdt 1 pertains specifically to all Boeing 737 series aircraft, imposing mandatory requirements intended to address an identified unsafe condition. This AD mandates that the Normal Procedures Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual for Boeing 737-100 and -200 series aircraft, or the Non-Normal Procedures Section for the Boeing 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, and -800 series aircraft, be revised to include specified procedures for managing uncommanded rudder movements. This revision is necessary to ensure that flight crews are adequately informed and equipped to handle situations involving a jammed or restricted rudder. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 30 days following 22 November 2000, unless the requirements of another directive, AD/B737/201, have already been met. The AD extends to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, as it is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. This directive supersedes previous ADs and amendments, ensuring that all applicable aircraft meet the latest safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/148 Amendment 1, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandates specific changes to the Boeing 737 series aircraft's flight manual. Section 2 of the AD specifies that all Model 737 series aircraft are subject to this directive. The requirement, outlined in section 3, is to revise the flight manual for certain Model 737 aircraft to include procedures from FAA AD 2000-22-02 Amdt 39-11948, or alternatively, to insert a copy of FAA AD 2000-22-02 directly into the Aircraft Flight Manual. This revision is intended to ensure that flight crews are properly informed about procedures to address an uncommanded yaw or roll condition, particularly in cases involving a jammed or restricted rudder. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Act, as described in section 4, include updating the Aircraft Flight Manual to incorporate the specified procedures within 30 days of 22 November 2000, unless the requirements of AD/B737/201 have already been met. The compliance section, detailed in section 5, indicates that the AD became effective on 7 August 2003, with the compliance deadline remaining unchanged. The directive aims to correct an unsafe condition identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ensuring that flight crews are adequately prepared to manage uncommanded rudder movements. Failure to comply with the AD can result in significant consequences, including potential safety risks to the aircraft and its occupants. The AD does not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance; however, non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, suspension of aircraft operations, or other regulatory actions. The severity of the consequences depends on the specific circumstances and the extent of non-compliance.