AD/B747/292 - BS 2360 Aft Pressure Bulkhead Outer Chord Bolts

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) were enacted to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the body responsible for implementing and enforcing these regulations, which aim to mitigate risks and enhance the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. One particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under these regulations, AD/B747/292, addresses an identified safety concern involving the aft pressure bulkhead outer chord bolts on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. This directive mandates the identification, inspection, and corrective action for specific bolts to ensure they meet the necessary safety standards, thereby preventing potential unsafe conditions that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The directive was issued to provide clear instructions for corrective actions in line with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) requirements and Boeing's service bulletins, ensuring a consistent approach to addressing this safety issue across the relevant aircraft models.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, specifically models 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200F, 747-200C, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP, within line numbers 1 through 644. The directive mandates action to rectify an unsafe condition related to the aft pressure bulkhead outer chord bolts, requiring identification and inspection of all H-11 steel bolts at body station BS 2360 between stingers 12L and 12R, corrective actions, and eventual replacement with Inconel bolts. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved in accordance with the technical specifications outlined in FAA AD 2003-11-25 Amdt 39-13185, with an effective date set for 7 August 2003. This AD applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to specific requirements for the Boeing 747 series aircraft, outlined in AD/B747/292 (subsection 1). This directive mandates actions for the aft pressure bulkhead outer chord bolts, particularly those made of H-11 steel, as detailed in the requirement section (subsection 2). The directive applies to Boeing 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200F, 747-200C, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series aircraft with line numbers 1 through 644 (subsection 3). The requirement section specifies the technical actions to be taken in accordance with FAA AD 2003-11-25 Amdt 39-13185, which includes the identification of all H-11 steel bolts on the outer chord of body station 2360 aft pressure bulkhead between stingers 12L and 12R, subsequent inspections, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of these bolts with Inconel bolts (subsection 4). The compliance section stipulates that these actions must be completed by a specified date, revised in the requirement document (subsection 5). The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties it governs include the identification, inspection, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of the specified H-11 steel bolts. Operators of the affected Boeing 747 series aircraft must ensure that these steps are followed to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. The directive requires operators to adhere to the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2003-11-25 Amdt 39-13185 and ensure compliance by the revised effective date of 7 August 2003 (subsection 6). Additionally, operators must refer to Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2474 for further guidance on the implementation of these directives (subsection 7). Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil or criminal consequences, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the AD, general penalties for breaches of aviation safety regulations under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) can include fines and potential criminal charges. The maximum penalties can be substantial, reflecting the critical nature of airworthiness compliance. The exact penalties would be determined by the relevant authorities based on the circumstances of the non-compliance (subsection 8).