COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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 CASR 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/B747/304 Wing Rear Spar Upper Chord and Splice Fitting
Structure
4/2004
Applicability: All Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200F, -200C, -300, 747SR, and
747SP series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2004-03-09 Amdt 39-13453.
Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-57A2314 Revision 1 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 15 April 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 April 2004.
Background: The manufacturer received reports of forty-three cracks found on eleven aircraft since 1989. This Directive requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the structure near and common to the upper chord and splice fittings of the rear spar of the wing.
An optional modification is provided which terminates the repetitive inspection requirement. Unless detected and corrected, cracking could result in loss of structural integrity of the aircraft and fuel leakage into the wheel well cavity.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 March 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 March 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, were enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address safety issues identified by the regulator or the manufacturer. The AD in question, AD/B747/304, pertains to Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes and focuses on the structural integrity of the wing rear spar upper chord and splice fitting. The directive was introduced following reports of cracks in the specified area on multiple aircraft since 1989. The policy objective of this AD is to mitigate the risk of structural failure and potential fuel leakage by mandating repetitive inspections and providing an optional modification to terminate the inspection requirement.
The AD was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the CASR 1998 and requires compliance with the technical requirements set out in FAA AD 2004-03-09 Amdt 39-13453, with a compliance date of 15 April 2004. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on the same date and applies to all Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200F, -200C, -300, 747SR, and 747SP series aircraft. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 March 2004.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, mandate the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (AD) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address identified safety concerns in aircraft operations. This particular AD/B747/304 applies to all Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes, including Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200F, -200C, -300, 747SR, and 747SP series aircraft. The directive mandates that corrective actions must be taken in accordance with the technical requirements specified in FAA AD 2004-03-09 Amdt 39-13453, addressing structural issues near the upper chord and splice fittings of the rear spar of the wing. The directive aims to prevent potential cracking that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft and lead to fuel leakage into the wheel well cavity. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved by the effective date specified, which was revised to 15 April 2004. The directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring consistent safety standards are met nationwide.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) B747/304, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), mandates specific actions concerning the wing rear spar upper chord and splice fittings of Boeing 747 series aircraft. This directive applies to all models of the Boeing 747 series, including 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200F, -200C, -300, 747SR, and 747SP (section 1). The requirement section stipulates that the corrective actions must align with the technical specifications outlined in FAA AD 2004-03-09 Amdt 39-13453. Additionally, Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-57A2314 Revision 1 provides supplementary information. The compliance section specifies that these actions must be undertaken by a revised effective date of 15 April 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive imposes obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance providers to ensure that the specified inspections and, if necessary, modifications are carried out on the specified aircraft models. Operators and maintenance providers must adhere to the instructions set out in the directive to prevent structural failures that could lead to catastrophic consequences such as loss of structural integrity or fuel leakage into the wheel well cavity. The AD is designed to enhance the safety of the aircraft by mandating regular and thorough inspections of the wing rear spar upper chord and splice fittings, as well as providing an optional modification to terminate the repetitive inspection requirement if certain conditions are met.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant consequences. Non-compliance may be considered a breach of aviation safety regulations, potentially leading to civil or criminal penalties. Specifically, under CASR 1998, non-compliance could lead to fines and other penalties as stipulated by the regulations. In the most severe cases, failure to adhere to the AD could result in the grounding of the aircraft, thereby impacting the safety and operational integrity of the flight. Operators and maintenance providers must ensure that all mandated inspections and modifications are completed within the specified timeframe to avoid these penalties and consequences.