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/B747/306 Passenger Service Unit Panel Rail Tie Bar 7/2004
Applicability: Model 747-400 and -400D series aircraft, identified as Group 2 aircraft in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3111 Revision 2, dated 24April 2003.
Requirement: Install tie bars in Zone A on the rails of the centre passenger service unit panels in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3111 Revision 2.
Note: FAA AD 2004-09-04 Amdt 39-13593 refers.
Compliance: Within 18 months after 8 July 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 8 July 2004.
Background: The FAA received a report that, during manufacture, panel tie bars were not installed on the rails of the centre passenger service units (PSU) panel in Zone A on certain Model 747-400 series aircraft. If the tie bars in Zone A are not installed, the PSU panels can move from their location on the PSU rails during flexure of the rails. This condition, if not corrected, could result in PSU panels falling from the PSU support rails during takeoff or landing, which could result in injury to passengers and could impede an evacuation in an emergency situation.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 26 May 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 June 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, address the need to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products to ensure safety in civil aviation. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aim to mitigate the risks associated with the operation of aircraft by issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) when necessary. The ADs are issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority conferred by subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. The overarching policy objective of these directives is to ensure that any unsafe conditions identified in aircraft are promptly addressed to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. This legislative instrument aims to provide a mechanism for CASA to issue mandatory directives to aircraft operators to correct identified safety issues, thereby maintaining the high safety standards required in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of civil aviation. This particular AD applies to Model 747-400 and -400D series aircraft that fall within Group 2 as specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3111 Revision 2, dated 24 April 2003. The directive requires the installation of tie bars in Zone A on the rails of the centre passenger service unit panels in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions provided in the referenced bulletin. Compliance with this AD is mandatory and must be achieved within 18 months from 8 July 2004, the date when the AD becomes effective. The directive is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the CASR 1998 and its applicability is limited to the specified models and groups of aircraft. The AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 June 2004, ensuring its legal enforceability across the Commonwealth.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specify certain provisions concerning Airworthiness Directives (ADs) in section 39.1(1). This section allows the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue ADs, which are regulatory requirements that must be complied with to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. Specifically, AD/B747/306 pertains to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes and mandates the installation of tie bars in Zone A on the rails of the centre passenger service unit (PSU) panels in accordance with Boeing's instructions. The AD applies to Model 747-400 and -400D series aircraft that fall under Group 2 as specified in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3111 Revision 2, dated 24 April 2003.
The AD requires that the specified action be taken by the relevant parties within 18 months of the AD's effective date of 8 July 2004. The instruction is to install the tie bars as per the Accomplishment Instructions in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 747-25-3111 Revision 2. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent the PSU panels from shifting or falling off during aircraft operations, which could lead to passenger injuries or impede emergency evacuations. The AD was issued by a CASA delegate, David Villiers, on 26 May 2004, and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 June 2004.
Failure to comply with this AD could result in significant safety risks, including the potential for PSU panels to dislodge during critical phases of flight, leading to passenger injuries or compromised emergency procedures. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text provided, non-compliance with ADs generally may result in enforcement actions by CASA, which could include fines, operational restrictions, or other civil or criminal consequences depending on the severity of the breach and the circumstances involved. The maximum penalties for such breaches are not explicitly stated in the AD but can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of maintaining aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety.