COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes
AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface 3/2003
Applicability: Model 747 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2478 dated 7 February 2002.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-26-15 Amdt 39-13003.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 20 March 2003.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003.
Background: This Directive requires inspections to detect evidence of wear damage at the interface of the vertical stabiliser and fuselage skin, and corrective actions, if necessary. Wear damage of the fuselage skin could result in thinning and cracking of the skin, and consequent in-flight depressurisation of the aircraft.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 February 2003.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, introduced the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives to address potential safety issues in aviation. The enactment of this regulation was overseen by the Australian Parliament and aims to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft through the issuance of directives that mandate specific actions to rectify identified safety concerns. The problem or gap this legislation addresses includes the need for consistent and enforceable measures to maintain the structural integrity of aircraft, ensuring passenger safety and compliance with international aviation safety standards. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998 focuses on the Boeing 747 series, requiring inspections and corrective actions to prevent potential wear damage at the interface of the vertical stabiliser and fuselage skin, which could otherwise lead to in-flight depressurisation. The directive is aimed at maintaining the operational safety of the aircraft, ensuring that all necessary inspections and repairs are performed in accordance with the specified requirements and timelines.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B747/288 pertains specifically to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes as outlined in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2478 dated 7 February 2002. This directive applies to all aircraft of the specified model series and is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive mandates that the action set out in the requirement section must be taken to correct the identified unsafe condition in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-26-15 Amdt 39-13003. The compliance timeline specified in the directive mandates that the required actions be completed by 20 March 2003, with the directive itself becoming effective on this date. The directive aims to ensure the safety of the aircraft by requiring inspections to detect wear damage at the interface of the vertical stabiliser and fuselage skin, with corrective actions to be undertaken if necessary, to prevent potential in-flight depressurisation due to thinning and cracking of the fuselage skin.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, mandate that Airworthiness Directives (AD) be issued to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. Section 39.1 provides the authority for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate to issue such directives. The AD for Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, AD/B747/288, mandates inspections and corrective actions at the interface of the vertical stabiliser and fuselage skin to prevent wear damage that could lead to in-flight depressurisation. The directive applies to all Model 747 series aircraft listed in the specified Boeing Alert Service Bulletin. The requirement section outlines the action to be taken in accordance with FAA AD 2002-26-15 Amdt 39-13003, with a compliance deadline of 20 March 2003.
Entities governed by this AD, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must ensure compliance with the directive. This entails conducting the required inspections and performing corrective actions as specified in the directive to maintain the airworthiness of the affected Boeing 747 series aircraft. Operators must ensure that all inspections and corrective actions are documented and completed by the revised effective date of 20 March 2003, as stated in the compliance section. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and other regulatory actions.
Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety implications, including the risk of in-flight depressurisation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has the authority to enforce compliance and may impose penalties for non-compliance. The penalties for non-compliance with an AD can include substantial fines, operational restrictions, or even the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. The exact penalties are determined based on the severity of the non-compliance and the associated risk to safety.