COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B737/30
Amdt 2
Engine Throttle Cable 1/92
Applicability: Model 737-300, -400 and -500 series, listed in Boeing SB 737-76-1023.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirement of FAA AD 91-21-13 Amdt 39- 8060.
Note: Boeing SB 737-76-1023 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the requirement document with a revised effective date of 12 January 1992 for Australian registered aircraft.
Background: Interference between the number two engine throttle cable and the adjacent right wing front spar bracket near station 124, has resulted in one throttle cable failure and a significant number of worn or frayed cables. This AD introduced an increased frequency inspection period until planned modification action by the manufacturer was available.
Amendment 1 was raised to include the 400 series aeroplane which was the subject of a new country of origin AD.
Amendment 2 to this Directive requires terminating action in lieu of repetitive inspections of the cable. The manufacturer has developed a modification which will eliminate the cable’s accelerated wear condition, and a condition referred to as “engine throttle cable ratcheting” which exists on each engine. The effective date required by the FAA is extended by approximately one month.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), particularly Part 39 - 105, were enacted by the Australian Parliament to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One of the significant amendments to these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/B737/30 Amendment 2. This AD was introduced to address the problem of interference between the number two engine throttle cable and the adjacent right wing front spar bracket near station 124, which had resulted in throttle cable failures and numerous instances of worn or frayed cables. The directive mandates compliance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-21-13 Amendment 39-8060, incorporating Boeing Service Bulletin 737-76-1023, and applies to the 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring the structural integrity of the engine throttle cables through increased inspection frequencies and eventual modifications.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, with this particular directive addressing Boeing 737 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument applies to the 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-76-1023. The directive necessitates compliance with the technical requirement outlined in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive 91-21-13 Amendment 39-8060, with a revised effective date of 12 January 1992 for Australian registered aircraft. The directive targets the issue of interference between the number two engine throttle cable and the adjacent right wing front spar bracket near station 124, which has caused throttle cable failures and significant wear or fraying of cables. Amendment 2 to this directive mandates terminating action in lieu of repetitive inspections of the cable, following the manufacturer’s developed modification that eliminates the cable’s accelerated wear condition and “engine throttle cable ratcheting” on each engine. This AD extends the effective date required by the FAA by approximately one month.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39-105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes (AD/B737/30 Amendment 2). This AD applies to Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes, as referenced in Boeing Service Bulletin 737-76-1023. The directive requires compliance with the technical requirement outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 91-21-13 Amendment 39-8060. The directive specifies a revised effective date of 12 January 1992 for Australian registered aircraft. The primary issue addressed by this AD is the interference between the number two engine throttle cable and the adjacent right wing front spar bracket near station 124, which has led to throttle cable failure and significant wear or fraying of the cables.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities governed by this legislation. Operators of the affected Boeing 737 series aeroplanes must ensure that actions are taken in accordance with the technical requirements specified in the FAA AD 91-21-13 Amendment 39-8060. This includes implementing the increased frequency inspections mandated until a planned modification by the manufacturer becomes available. Furthermore, Amendment 2 requires that terminating action be taken in lieu of repetitive inspections of the throttle cable. This involves the installation of a modification developed by the manufacturer, which is designed to eliminate the cable’s accelerated wear condition and the issue of “engine throttle cable ratcheting” on each engine. The directive also mandates adherence to the extended effective date set by the FAA.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance may lead to potential safety hazards, such as throttle cable failure, which could compromise the aircraft's airworthiness and lead to accidents. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for breach of this AD are not detailed in the legislative text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions could include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other regulatory penalties. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance and the associated risk to aviation safety.