COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B747/176 and issues the following 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.
AD/B747/176
Amdt 1
Centre Wing Tank Front Spar Web 9/2000
Applicability: Model 747-200, -300, and -400 series aircraft, line numbers up to and including 744.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-11-07 Amdt 39-11755.
Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 747-57A2298 Revision 1, Revision 2, and Revision 3 refer.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document for the initial and repetitive inspection requirements, with a revised effective date of 7 September 2000.
This Amendment becomes effective on 7 September 2000.
Background: The FAA received reports of fatigue cracking of the front spar web of the centre wing tank. The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent the leakage of fuel into the forward cargo bay, as a result of the fatigue cracking, which could result in a potential fire hazard.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires that the existing inspection be accomplished at a reduced threshold, and adds a requirement that the existing High Frequency Eddy Current inspection be accomplished on repaired areas. This action was prompted by reports of cracking in repaired areas of the front spar web and cracking of the front spar web on an aircraft that had accumulated fewer flight cycles than the currently required inspection threshold.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 19 June 1997.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Date 27 July 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 August 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, regulate various aspects of civil aviation safety within the country, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety issues. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing civil aviation safety and issues ADs under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft. AD/B747/176 Amdt 1, issued in 2000, specifically targets Boeing 747 Series aeroplanes to address the problem of fatigue cracking in the front spar web of the centre wing tank, which could lead to fuel leakage and potential fire hazards. The policy objective of this AD is to mandate inspections in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) requirements to mitigate the risk of fuel leakage and fire hazards associated with the identified structural issue.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes Airworthiness Directives (AD) for the maintenance and safety of aircraft, ensuring compliance with civil aviation safety standards. This legislative instrument applies to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, specifically models 747-200, -300, and -400 with line numbers up to and including 744. The AD mandates inspections to be conducted in accordance with FAA AD 2000-11-07 Amdt 39-11755, with particular attention to Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 747-57A2298 Revision 1, Revision 2, and Revision 3. The requirement necessitates compliance with specified technical instructions and timelines to address the issue of fatigue cracking of the front spar web of the centre wing tank, which could potentially lead to fuel leakage and fire hazards. The AD was issued in response to new reports and safety concerns, and it is effective from the specified compliance date, with amendments noted to reduce inspection thresholds and improve safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes detailed requirements for ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. Under this part, section 39.1 (1) allows for the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address specific safety concerns. In the case of Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, AD/B747/176 and its amendment AD/B747/176 Amdt 1 address the issue of fatigue cracking in the centre wing tank front spar web. The AD applies to Model 747-200, -300, and -400 series aircraft, up to line number 744, and mandates inspections in accordance with FAA AD 2000-11-07 Amdt 39-11755. This is intended to prevent fuel leakage into the forward cargo bay, which could cause a fire hazard.
The obligations imposed by this AD include conducting inspections as per the specified technical requirements and following the detailed instructions provided in FAA AD 2000-11-07 Amdt 39-11755. Operators must ensure that these inspections are carried out on repaired areas, as highlighted in Boeing Alert Service Bulletins 747-57A2298 Revisions 1, 2, and 3. The compliance section stipulates that initial and repetitive inspections must be conducted at the times specified in the requirement document, with a revised effective date of 7 September 2000. This directive aims to maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft and mitigate the risk of in-flight failures.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the AD/B747/176 and AD/B747/176 Amdt 1 could result in serious safety risks, including potential fuel leaks and fire hazards. The AD itself does not specify penalties for non-compliance; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally falls under the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The CASA may impose civil penalties, including fines, and criminal penalties, such as imprisonment, for operators who fail to adhere to the ADs. The exact penalties can vary based on the severity of the non-compliance and the specific regulations breached.