AD/B747/164 - Door 5 Escape Slide/Raft

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules governing civil aviation safety. Part 39 of these regulations includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which address specific safety concerns and operational requirements for various aircraft types. One such directive, AD/B747/164, pertains to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes and requires modifications to the door 5 escape slide/raft to ensure it deploys properly under adverse loads, thereby preventing injury to passengers and facilitating timely evacuation during emergencies. This directive was introduced to address a safety gap identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which had received reports of the door 5 evacuation slide/raft failing to deploy correctly due to its geometric design. The objective is to mitigate the risk of injury and ensure efficient evacuation procedures by mandating specific modifications to the slide/raft assembly.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Boeing 747 series aeroplanes and mandates modifications to the door 5 escape slide/raft to ensure the safety of passengers during an emergency evacuation. This legislation applies to all Model 747 series aircraft equipped with BFGoodrich Evacuation Slide/Rafts at door 5, particularly those with slide/raft assembly part numbers 7A1469-1 through -12, irrespective of the unit serial numbers. The requirement is to modify the slide/rafts in accordance with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1469-25-283, and compliance must be achieved before 3 September 1999. Notably, modifications made prior to the issuance of this directive, in alignment with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25A3096 which references BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1469-25-283, are deemed acceptable. This regulation ensures that any issues related to the geometry of the slide/raft, which could lead to improper deployment, are rectified to prevent passenger injury and facilitate a timely evacuation during emergencies.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandate the applicability of the Airworthiness Directive AD/B747/164 (paragraph 1). This directive pertains to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes that are equipped with BFGoodrich Evacuation Slide/Rafts at door 5, specifically those having slide/raft assembly part numbers 7A1469-1 to -12 (all unit serial numbers). The requirement is to modify the door 5 evacuation slide/rafts in accordance with BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1469-25-283. It is noteworthy that modifications made prior to the issuance of this directive in compliance with Boeing Service Bulletin 747-25A3096, which references BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1469-25-283, are deemed acceptable for compliance with the directive. This directive is also cross-referenced with FAA AD 96-15-08 Amendment 39-9698. The regulations impose specific obligations on the parties governed by these provisions. Aircraft operators must ensure that the door 5 evacuation slide/rafts on the specified Boeing 747 series aeroplanes are modified according to the guidelines outlined in the BFGoodrich Service Bulletin 7A1469-25-283. This requirement must be fulfilled by the compliance date of 3 September 1999. The directive aims to address reports of the slide/raft failing to deploy properly due to adverse loads caused by the geometry of the slide/raft, which could result in passenger injuries and impede evacuation during emergencies. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/B747/164 could result in legal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive is an offence. The potential civil or criminal penalties for such breaches are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but they could include fines or other penalties as determined by the relevant aviation authorities. The seriousness of the issue, given the potential for passenger injury and evacuation delays, suggests that the penalties for non-compliance could be significant.