COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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 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.
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/166 Escape Slide 12/2001
Applicability: Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing
Service Bulletin 737-25-1405, dated 25 May 2000.
Model 737-600, -700, and -800 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-25-1403, dated 4 May 2000.
Model 737-600, -700, and -800 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-25-1404, dated 25 May 2000.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 29 November 2001.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 29 November 2001.
Background: The FAA requires modification of the escape slide latch assembly, and for certain aircraft, installation of a cover on the slide inflation cylinder. The required action is intended to prevent failure of an escape slide to deploy or inflate correctly, which could result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 October 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 7 November 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australia. This legislation is critical in addressing safety issues that may compromise the integrity of aircraft and the safety of passengers and crew. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 includes Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that mandate corrective actions to be taken on identified unsafe conditions. These directives are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and are designed to maintain high safety standards in civil aviation. For instance, AD/B737/166 addresses a specific safety concern related to the escape slide systems on Boeing 737 series aeroplanes, requiring modifications to prevent deployment failures during emergency evacuations. The policy objective behind these ADs is to ensure that all aircraft meet stringent safety requirements, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety in Australia.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies to specified models of Boeing 737 series aeroplanes, namely the 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, -500, -600, -700, and -800 series, as identified in relevant Boeing Service Bulletins. The directive mandates corrective actions to address potential unsafe conditions related to the escape slide latch assembly and the installation of a cover on the slide inflation cylinder, as specified in FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amdt 39-12335, to ensure the slides function correctly during emergency evacuations. The compliance timeline for these actions is revised to 29 November 2001, and the directive becomes effective from this date. This legislation directly affects aircraft operators and maintenance providers within the Australian Commonwealth, ensuring adherence to safety standards set forth by the CASA and aligning with international regulatory frameworks such as the FAA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under PART 39, section 105, establish the Airworthiness Directive (AD) which sets forth specific safety requirements for certain Boeing 737 series aeroplanes. This AD, numbered AD/B737/166 and issued on 12 December 2001, applies to the Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, -500, -600, -700, and -800 series aircraft, as detailed in relevant Boeing Service Bulletins dated between 4 May 2000 and 25 May 2000 (section 1). The directive mandates that the action required to rectify an identified unsafe condition be taken in accordance with the technical specifications outlined in FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amendment 39-12335 (section 2). Compliance with this AD must occur as specified in the requirement document, with an effective date of 29 November 2001 (section 3). This AD became effective on 29 November 2001, as stated in section 4. The directive aims to address the risk of escape slide malfunctions, which could lead to unusable slides during emergency evacuations.
Entities governed by the AD are obligated to implement the specified modifications to the escape slide latch assembly and, where applicable, to install a cover on the slide inflation cylinder. These modifications are intended to prevent failures in the deployment or inflation of escape slides, ensuring their usability during emergency evacuations (section 2). Compliance must be achieved in line with the technical instructions provided in FAA AD 2001-15-01 Amendment 39-12335, and within the timeframe set out in the compliance section of the directive (section 3).
Failure to adhere to the requirements of this AD may result in significant civil or criminal consequences. The AD does not explicitly state penalties within the text, but non-compliance with ADs can lead to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, which can include fines, prosecution, and other regulatory sanctions. Operators and owners of the affected aircraft must ensure they meet the AD requirements to avoid potential enforcement actions and to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft.