Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aviation operations in Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/B737/167, was enacted in response to a reported severe corrosion on a keel beam splice in Boeing 737-700 series aircraft, highlighting a safety concern that required immediate attention. The directive mandates inspections and necessary repairs to prevent potential failure of the keel beam, which could compromise the integrity of the aircraft's forward fuselage. The policy objective of this AD is to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft by correcting identified unsafe conditions through prescribed actions.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies to specific models of Boeing 737 series aircraft, namely the 737-600 and -700 series aircraft within line numbers 1 through 908, and the 737-800 series aircraft within line numbers 1 through 455. The directive mandates that inspections be conducted to identify any corrosion or cracking in the keel beam splices of these aircraft. If such defects are detected during the inspection, immediate action must be taken to repair or replace the affected splice plates and bolts with new, improved parts, ensuring they meet the type certification basis of the aircraft and have been approved by a Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative (DER) who is authorised to make such determinations. This AD, which is an exercise of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulatory powers, ensures compliance with the specified requirements and sets a revised effective date of 29 November 2001. The directive becomes effective from the specified date and aims to mitigate the risk of keel beam failure, which could potentially lead to catastrophic structural failure of the forward fuselage.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under Part 39, Section 105, introduce an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that mandates specific actions to ensure the safety of Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes, namely models 737-600, 700, and 800, within defined line numbers. The AD, titled AD/B737/167, focuses on the keel beam splices of these aircraft and requires a thorough inspection in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-17-02 Amdt 39-12393 (Section 1). This directive is applicable to aircraft that have been in service for a certain period, as specified within the document, and demands that any discovered corrosion or cracking be addressed by either repairing or replacing the splice plates and bolts with new, improved parts (Section 2). The compliance with this directive must be carried out as per the instructions set out in the requirement section, with a revised effective date of 29 November 2001 (Section 3). The obligations imposed by this AD on the relevant parties include conducting the specified inspections and taking corrective action if any defects are found. The directive mandates that these inspections and subsequent repairs or replacements must be performed by personnel authorised by a Boeing Company Designated Engineering Representative (DER), who must meet the type certification basis of the aircraft (Section 2). Furthermore, the directive stipulates that the compliance must be achieved within the timeframe set out in the requirement document, with the directive becoming effective on 29 November 2001 (Section 3). This ensures that the safety measures are implemented in a timely and controlled manner to prevent any potential hazards associated with keel beam failures. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in significant consequences. Although the specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, the overarching principle is that non-compliance could lead to the aircraft being deemed unsafe for operation, potentially resulting in grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken. The seriousness of the directive, aimed at preventing failure of the keel beam, which could result in the failure of the forward fuselage of the aircraft, underscores the potential gravity of non-compliance. Therefore, it is imperative for all parties involved to adhere strictly to the provisions of this AD to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes.