AD/B747/27 - Escape Slide Flapper Valve - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address the need for stringent safety standards in civil aviation. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations, which concern the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, targets the safety of Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, F2006B03166, was introduced to rectify a problem identified with the escape slide flapper valve on certain Boeing 747 models equipped with B.F. Goodrich escape slides and turbo fans, which had previously experienced failures during emergency inflation tests. The objective of the legislation is to ensure compliance with the specified safety directives to prevent potential hazards during emergency evacuations. The Civil Aviation (Airworthiness) Regulations 1998 provide a framework for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to issue directives that mandate modifications or inspections to maintain airworthiness. This particular directive, AD/B747/27, was issued to address instances where escape slides failed to deploy correctly, thereby enhancing the safety of passengers and crew during emergencies. The regulation requires compliance by 1 January 1981, as outlined in FAA AD 80-20-02, Amendment 39-3928, Boeing SB 747-25-2543, or B.F. Goodrich SB 25-060.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the applicability of airworthiness directives concerning certain aircraft models. This legislation applies to all Boeing 747 series aeroplanes equipped with B.F. Goodrich escape slides and turbo fans, as identified in B.F. Goodrich Service Bulletin No. 25-060 dated 14 July 1980. The scope of this regulation is geographically extensive, applying throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and ensuring compliance with safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The regulation mandates compliance with the directives outlined in FAA AD 80-20-02, Amendment 39-3928, Boeing SB 747-25-2543, or B.F. Goodrich SB 25-060, with an emphasis on ensuring that modifications are implemented before 1 January 1981. This legislation aims to prevent the failures of escape slides during emergency tests, thereby enhancing the safety of passengers and crew during evacuations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes detailed requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/B747/27, focuses on the modification of escape slide flapper valves to prevent inflation failures. This directive applies to all Boeing 747 models equipped with B.F. Goodrich escape slides and turbo fans, as identified in B.F. Goodrich Service Bulletin (SB) No. 25-060 dated 14 July 1980 (Section 1). To comply with this directive, operators must follow the instructions provided in one of the following documents: FAA AD 80-20-02, Amendment 39-3928; Boeing SB 747-25-2543; or B.F. Goodrich SB 25-060 (Section 2). Compliance with this directive is required before 1 January 1981 (Section 3). Operators and owners of the affected Boeing 747 aeroplanes are obligated to ensure that the necessary modifications to the escape slide flapper valves are made in accordance with the specified service bulletins or directives. This includes reviewing the documentation provided and implementing the required modifications to prevent any potential inflation failures of the escape slides during emergencies. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aeroplane being considered non-airworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential operational disruptions. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose stringent obligations on the operators and owners of Boeing 747 aeroplanes to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. This involves ensuring that all safety-related modifications, such as those specified in AD/B747/27, are carried out in a timely manner. Operators must also keep detailed records of all modifications and ensure that the aeroplanes meet all regulatory requirements before they are returned to service. Non-compliance with these obligations can result in serious consequences, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement actions by CASA. In cases where operators or owners fail to comply with the requirements set out in AD/B747/27, there can be significant legal and financial repercussions. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. Civil penalties can include substantial fines, while criminal penalties may involve imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight of the non-compliant operations. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the non-compliance and the discretion of the court, but they serve as a strong deterrent against neglecting safety directives.