COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B747/114 Escape Slides 13/92
Applicability: Model 747 series, equipped with escape slides listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747- 25-2132; or, equipped with escape systems installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate SA574GL, SA575GL, SA744GL, SA745GL, or SA1215EA.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 92-16-08 Amdt 39- 8317.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document with a revised effective date of 10 December 1992 for Australian registered aircraft.
Background: A report had been received of a recent emergency evacuation, during which a broken plastic pulley guard caused the release cable to come loose from the pulley before the escape system released from the packboard. This event caused the passenger door to jam in the partially open position, preventing the exit door from being used.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by F2006B03016, aim to address safety concerns related to escape slides on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to ensure that all applicable aircraft comply with stringent safety directives to prevent incidents where escape slides malfunction, potentially leading to life-threatening situations during emergency evacuations. The problem this regulation was introduced to address was highlighted by a reported incident where a broken plastic pulley guard led to the release cable dislodging before the escape system could fully release, causing the passenger door to jam. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate compliance with the technical requirements specified in FAA AD 92-16-08 Amdt 39-8317, with a revised effective date of 10 December 1992 for Australian registered aircraft, ensuring that all escape systems operate as intended under emergency conditions.
This legislative instrument was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which ensures that the aviation industry adheres to the highest safety standards. The overarching goal of this regulation is to mitigate risks associated with escape slide malfunctions, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of emergency evacuations in the aviation sector.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes that are either equipped with escape slides listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2132 or have escape systems installed in accordance with certain Supplemental Type Certificates, namely SA574GL, SA575GL, SA744GL, SA745GL, or SA1215EA. This regulation is part of a broader framework aimed at ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The requirement specified in the regulation mandates compliance with the technical directives outlined in FAA AD 92-16-08 Amendment 39-8317, with a revised effective date of 10 December 1992 for Australian registered aircraft. This amendment was prompted by an incident where a broken plastic pulley guard during an emergency evacuation caused the release cable to disengage, leading to a passenger door jamming in a partially open position. The regulation ensures that the safety measures required under the FAA directive are implemented to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness directives for Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, with a particular focus on escape slides in AD/B747/114. This directive applies to Boeing 747 series aircraft that are equipped with escape slides listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25-2132, or those with escape systems installed under Supplemental Type Certificates SA574GL, SA575GL, SA744GL, SA745GL, or SA1215EA (sections 1-3). The directive mandates that operators comply with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 92-16-08 Amendment 39-8317. This includes specific actions to ensure the safety and functionality of the escape slides, ensuring they operate correctly during emergency evacuations.
Operators of the affected Boeing 747 series aeroplanes must adhere to the compliance specifications detailed in the Requirement Document, with a revised effective date of 10 December 1992 for aircraft registered in Australia (section 4). This entails ensuring that all escape slides are inspected, maintained, and tested in accordance with the FAA's amended directive, thereby mitigating the risk of the escape system malfunctioning during an emergency. This includes replacing or repairing any faulty components, such as the plastic pulley guards, which, if broken, could lead to the release cable disengaging and the door jamming in an open position.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can lead to significant consequences. The regulations impose strict obligations on operators to ensure the safety of passengers and crew during emergency evacuations. Non-compliance may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including fines, sanctions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed (section 5). The severity of these penalties reflects the critical importance of ensuring the airworthiness of escape systems, which are vital for the safety of all persons on board during an emergency.