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/B737/208 Oxygen Masks 3/2003
Applicability: Model 737-300, -400 and -500 series aeroplanes.
Requirement: Revise the procedures regarding donning oxygen masks in the event of rapid depressurisation, as contained in the Emergency Procedures section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), as follows:
Delete: -
''RAPID DEPRESSURISATION (With aeroplane altitude above 14,000 feet MSL.)
RECALL
Oxygen Masks & Regulators—ON, 100%'' Insert: -
"CABIN ALTITUDE WARNING OR RAPID DEPRESSURISATION
If the cabin altitude warning horn sounds:
RECALL
Oxygen Masks & Regulators—ON, 100%"
The rest of the steps under this heading in the AFM are unchanged.
The AFM revision may be accomplished by inserting a copy of the Directive into the relevant section of the AFM.
Note: FAA AD 2003-03-15 Amdt 39-13039 refers.
Compliance: Before 20 June 2003.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003.
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/208 (Continued)
Background: This Directive requires the revision of the AFM to advise the flight crew to don oxygen masks as a first and immediate step when the cabin altitude warning horn sounds. This action is necessary to prevent incapacitation of the flight crew due to lack of oxygen, which could result in loss of control of the aeroplane.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 February 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 February 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/B737/208 in 2003 to address safety concerns regarding the procedures for donning oxygen masks in Boeing 737 Series aeroplanes (models 737-300, -400, and -500) during rapid depressurisation events. The directive was enacted to correct the unsafe condition of flight crews potentially being incapacitated due to lack of oxygen, which could lead to loss of control of the aeroplane. The policy objective is to ensure that flight crews don their oxygen masks immediately upon hearing the cabin altitude warning horn, thereby reducing the risk of incapacitation during rapid depressurisation events. This directive became effective on 20 March 2003 and required compliance by 20 June 2003.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies specifically to the Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes, addressing a critical safety issue related to the procedures for donning oxygen masks during rapid depressurisation events. This safety directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998). The AD mandates that operators of the specified Boeing 737 series aircraft revise the Emergency Procedures section of their Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to ensure that flight crews don their oxygen masks immediately upon hearing the cabin altitude warning horn, rather than waiting until the aircraft reaches an altitude of 14,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). This change is imperative to prevent incapacitation of the flight crew due to lack of oxygen, which could lead to a loss of control of the aeroplane. The AD must be complied with before 20 June 2003, and it became effective on 20 March 2003.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/208 pertains to the Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes, specifically requiring changes to the procedures for donning oxygen masks in the event of rapid depressurisation. According to section 3 of the AD, the procedures in the Emergency Procedures section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) must be revised to state that crew members should don their oxygen masks immediately when the cabin altitude warning horn sounds. This directive is in response to incidents where flight crew were incapacitated due to lack of oxygen, which could result in loss of control of the aeroplane. The directive mandates that this change must be implemented before 20 June 2003, and it became effective on 20 March 2003.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, operators of Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes must ensure that the AFM is updated to reflect the new procedure for donning oxygen masks. This update must be made by inserting a copy of the directive into the relevant section of the AFM. Secondly, operators must ensure that the revised procedures are implemented before the specified compliance date. Failure to comply with these obligations could result in safety risks, as the directive is designed to prevent incapacitation of the flight crew due to lack of oxygen, which could lead to a loss of control of the aeroplane.
There are potential consequences for failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive. Although the specific penalties are not outlined in the text, non-compliance with ADs in Australian aviation law can lead to serious civil or criminal penalties. In particular, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, an operator who fails to comply with an AD can be subject to fines and even imprisonment. The severity of the penalty depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but the potential for significant financial and criminal penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the directive.