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/B737/183 Fuselage Lap Joints 7/2002
Applicability: Model 737-200 and -200C aircraft, line numbers 1 through 291.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-07-11 Amdt 39-12705.
Note: Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53A1177 Revision 6 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 11 July 2002.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 11 July 2002.
Background: This Directive requires repetitive inspections of certain fuselage lap joint areas, repair of any cracking found, and an eventual terminating modification of those areas. Such cracking, unless detected and corrected, could result in rapid decompression of the aircraft.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 May 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 June 2002.
Page 1 of 1
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, were enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for consistent and rigorous safety standards across the aviation industry, ensuring that all aircraft meet the necessary requirements to operate safely. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), a body within the Australian Government, was established to administer these regulations. The policy objective of these regulations is to safeguard the public by ensuring that civil aircraft are maintained in a safe and airworthy condition. One such regulation is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which mandates specific actions to be taken to address identified safety concerns. For instance, AD/B737/183 concerning Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes was issued to address the risk of fuselage lap joint cracking, which, if left uncorrected, could lead to rapid decompression of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, mandates airworthiness directives (AD) to ensure the safety of civil aircraft, with AD/B737/183 addressing Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to Model 737-200 and -200C aircraft within specific line numbers, requiring repetitive inspections, repair, and modifications to fuselage lap joints to prevent rapid decompression due to potential cracking. The directive's requirements mandate action in line with the technical specifications outlined in FAA AD 2002-07-11 Amdt 39-12705 and reference Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53A1177 Revision 6. Compliance with these directives is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with a revised effective date of 11 July 2002. The AD is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, ensuring its nationwide applicability and enforcement.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/B737/183, pertains to the fuselage lap joints of the Model 737-200 and -200C aircraft, line numbers 1 through 291 (section 1). This directive mandates actions to be taken in response to identified unsafe conditions, requiring compliance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2002-07-11 Amdt 39-12705, which is further detailed in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-53A1177 Revision 6 (section 2). The AD becomes effective on 11 July 2002, and the compliance must be carried out according to the instructions set forth in the requirement section, with adherence to the specified timeline (section 3).
The obligations imposed by this AD include conducting repetitive inspections of certain fuselage lap joint areas, which are critical to ensuring the structural integrity of the aircraft. Any cracking detected during these inspections must be repaired, and there is a requirement for an eventual terminating modification of these areas to prevent rapid decompression (section 4). The directive underscores the importance of these inspections and repairs to maintain the airworthiness of the specified aircraft models (section 5).
In the event of non-compliance with the AD, there are potential legal consequences. The AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but it is implied that failure to adhere to these safety directives could result in civil or criminal penalties, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Such penalties might include fines or other sanctions for those who do not comply with the AD's requirements, ensuring that safety standards are upheld across the aviation industry (section 6).