Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety and airworthiness of aircraft through the implementation of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/B737/22, pertains to Boeing 737 series aeroplanes and was introduced to mitigate the risk of an uncontained Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) tail pipe fire. This risk was identified following an incident where undrained fuel from an unsuccessful APU start led to severe damage of the empennage flight control surfaces. The directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, with the policy objective of enhancing aircraft safety by mandating specific actions to be taken at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service, and prior to a specified date, to ensure the APU fuel drains are properly managed. The directive references actions from Boeing Service Letters and Service Bulletins, and notes the related Federal Aviation Administration directive for further context.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically target Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes. The Act applies to all models within the B737 series and pertains to the maintenance and operation of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fuel drains. This legislation is applicable on a national level within Australia, ensuring that all operators and owners of B737 series aircraft adhere to the stipulated safety directives. The primary focus of this regulation is to mitigate the risk of uncontained APU tail pipe fires, which can occur due to undrained fuel from unsuccessful APU starts, as evidenced by a prior incident causing severe damage to the empennage flight control surfaces. The directive mandates compliance with specific actions detailed in Boeing Service Letters and Bulletins, and the requirement for action must be completed at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service or before 31 March 1995. This regulation extends its application through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, contains an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning Boeing 737 series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/B737/22 Amendment 1 focuses on the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) fuel drains. This directive mandates actions in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 737-SL-47-14-A until a specific requirement is incorporated, and then it requires action in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-49-1073. It is pertinent to note that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 92-03-07 Amendment 39-8162 is also referenced in this context. The AD/B737/22 Amendment 1 imposes certain compliance requirements on the operators of Boeing 737 series aeroplanes. Firstly, it mandates actions in accordance with Boeing Service Letter 737-SL-47-14-A until a specific requirement is incorporated. Secondly, operators must take action in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 737-49-1073. These actions must be carried out at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service and prior to 31 March 1995. The AD/B737/22 Amendment 1 is critical to ensuring the airworthiness of Boeing 737 series aeroplanes by addressing a significant safety concern. Specifically, it targets the issue of undrained fuel from an unsuccessful APU start, which can lead to an uncontained APU tail pipe fire. Such a fire has the potential to cause severe damage to the empennage flight control surfaces, thereby compromising the safety of the aircraft. This directive provides terminating action for this particular safety issue, ensuring that operators comply with the specified requirements to mitigate the risk. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/B737/22 Amendment 1 can result in severe consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could result in grounding and potential legal ramifications for the operators. Furthermore, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance, and persistent non-compliance could result in significant penalties. It is essential for operators to adhere to the specified actions and timelines to avoid any adverse outcomes.