COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B747/61 Amdt 1 and issues the following 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.
AD/B747/61
Amdt 2
Rear Pressure Bulkhead 11/2000
Applicability: Model 747 series aircraft, line positions 1 through 671.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-15-08 Amdt 39-11840.
Note: Boeing Service Bulletin 747-53-2275 through Revision 5 and 747-53A2275 Revision 6 refer.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document with a revised effective date of 2 November 2000.
This Amendment becomes effective on 2 November 2000.
Background: Damage including dents, tears, nicks, gouges, and scratches, has been found on some aircraft. Fatigue cracking may occur on high time aircraft and undetected damage may lead to premature fatigue cracking. The required inspections are intended to ensure the continued structural integrity of the bulkhead.
Amendment 1 was prompted by reports indicating that the inspections required by FAA AD 87-23-10 may not detect cracking of the bulkhead web in a timely manner, and certain inspection changes were introduced.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires that a currently required one-time inspection to detect cracking of the upper segment of the bulkhead web be accomplished repetitively, and adds additional repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the upper and lower segments of the aft bulkhead web.
Amendment 1 to this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 December 1998.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 24 March 1998.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 September 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to establish the necessary framework for regulating civil aviation safety in Australia. This legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to ensure that all civil aviation activities within Australia are conducted in a manner that protects the public and promotes safety. In 2000, CASA introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing 747 series aircraft to address safety concerns related to the rear pressure bulkhead. The directive, AD/B747/61 Amdt 2, was issued to rectify issues such as damage, dents, and potential fatigue cracking that could compromise the structural integrity of the bulkhead. The AD mandates specific inspections and actions to be taken by aircraft operators to mitigate these risks, thereby ensuring compliance with safety standards and maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to Boeing 747 series aeroplanes in line positions 1 through 671. This directive is issued to address safety concerns related to the rear pressure bulkhead of these aircraft, where damage such as dents, tears, nicks, gouges, and scratches may lead to fatigue cracking, particularly in high time aircraft. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandates specific actions in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-15-08 Amdt 39-11840, with references to Boeing Service Bulletins 747-53-2275 through Revision 5 and 747-53A2275 Revision 6, to ensure the continued structural integrity of the bulkhead. The directive has been amended twice; Amendment 1 became effective on 31 December 1998, and Amendment 2, which is the current version, became effective on 2 November 2000. The AD was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000 and applies nationally under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, outline the requirements for airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular directive, AD/B747/61 Amdt 2, pertains to the Boeing 747 series aircraft and addresses structural concerns related to the rear pressure bulkhead. It applies to Boeing 747 series aircraft in line positions 1 through 671 (section 11). The requirement set forth in the directive is that the action specified in the requirement section must be taken in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2000-15-08 Amdt 39-11840 (section 1). This includes addressing any damage such as dents, tears, nicks, gouges, or scratches that may lead to fatigue cracking, especially in high-time aircraft where such damage may go undetected (section 1).
The directive imposes obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance entities to conduct inspections and make necessary repairs or modifications to the rear pressure bulkhead to ensure its continued structural integrity. This involves following the specific instructions and technical requirements provided in the FAA AD and Boeing Service Bulletins referenced in the directive (section 1). Operators must ensure that these inspections and actions are carried out within the specified timeframe, which is set as of 2 November 2000 (section 1). Compliance with these directives is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring passenger safety.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant legal and safety consequences. Non-compliance may lead to grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken, which can disrupt flight schedules and incur financial losses for the operators. Additionally, there are potential civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Civil penalties can include fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals or companies responsible for non-compliance, which can result in substantial fines and imprisonment (section 1). The exact penalties are determined based on the nature and severity of the breach, but they serve as a strong deterrent to ensure adherence to safety regulations.