AD/B747/96 - Drain Mast Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. Part 39, specifically, addresses airworthiness directives, which are mandatory orders issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive is AD/B747/96 concerning Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, which was introduced to address safety concerns related to the drain mast assemblies. This directive was prompted by reports of fires potentially caused by foreign material coming into contact with drain mast heater elements. The policy objective behind AD/B747/96 is to prevent structural damage to the fuselage and mitigate the risk of uncontrolled fires, thereby ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. Compliance with this directive is required within 12 months from the date of issuance, 11 July 1991.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the Airworthiness Directives for Boeing 747 series aeroplanes, addressing issues identified through the FAA AD 91-09-11 and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-38A2077, dated 30 August 1990. This legislation applies to all Boeing 747 series aeroplanes listed in the bulletin, requiring compliance with the technical requirements specified to rectify potential fire hazards arising from the contact of foreign material with drain mast heater elements. Failure to adhere to these directives within the stipulated 12-month period could lead to significant structural damage and the risk of uncontrolled fires. The scope of this regulation is limited to the specified Boeing 747 series aeroplanes and does not extend to other aircraft types or entities not mentioned in the referenced bulletins. Subordinate instruments may further detail or modify the application of these directives, ensuring ongoing safety standards are met across the relevant industry sector.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (subsections AD/B747/96), pertain to the airworthiness directives for Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. This regulation requires compliance with the Technical Requirements of FAA AD 91-09-11, which is referenced in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-38A2077 dated 30 August 1990. The applicability of this directive is limited to the Boeing 747 series aeroplanes listed in the aforementioned bulletin. The primary requirement outlined in these regulations is that corrective action must be taken in accordance with the technical specifications provided in FAA AD 91-09-11. This directive mandates actions to mitigate the risk of fire, which may arise from foreign material coming into contact with the drain mast heater elements. The regulation stipulates that such compliance must be achieved within 12 months from the date of 11 July 1991. The obligations imposed by this regulation are significant for the operators and maintainers of Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that all necessary actions are taken to address the identified issue, which involves the inspection and, if required, the replacement or modification of the drain mast assemblies. This includes reviewing the technical specifications provided by the FAA and Boeing to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented to prevent the risk of fire. The regulation also places the responsibility on the operators to ensure that the corrective actions are completed within the specified timeframe, which is 12 months from the effective date of the directive. Failure to comply with the requirements of this airworthiness directive can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose strict penalties for non-compliance. The specific consequences for breaching these regulations can include both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may involve fines or other monetary penalties, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court. It is important for operators to adhere strictly to the regulatory requirements to avoid these potential consequences.