Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation safety in Australia. The regulation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), sets out various requirements to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. One such requirement is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues. AD/B767/118 is an example of such a directive, issued on 15 June 2000. This directive mandates the inspection and repair of engine thrust control cables for Boeing 767 series aircraft powered with either Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4 series engines or General Electric CF6-80A series engines. The directive was introduced in response to reported failures of engine thrust cables, aiming to prevent such failures during operation and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring inspections and necessary repairs to be completed within specific timeframes following the directive's effective date.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia, mandates this Airworthiness Directive concerning Boeing 767 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to Model 767 series aircraft that are powered by either Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4 series engines or General Electric CF6-80A series engines. The directive requires operators to inspect the engine thrust control cables in line with the technical specifications outlined in Appendix 1 of FAA AD 99-21-18 Amendment 39-11363 and to repair any detected faults as per the procedures specified in the Boeing 767 maintenance manual before permitting further flights. Additionally, for aircraft identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 767-76-0010 Revision 1 dated 20 February 1992, the directive mandates the replacement of two non-metallic pulleys of the thrust control cables with aluminium pulleys and the re-rigging of the engine thrust control cables in accordance with the same Boeing service bulletin. This directive extends its applicability nationwide, covering all relevant aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, and it does not specify any exclusions or exemptions. The compliance period requires inspections and necessary replacements to be completed within 18 months of the aircraft entering service or after 4,500 flight hours, whichever comes first, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 18 months or 4,500 flight hours thereafter. This Airworthiness Directive is enforceable under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, with potential penalties for non-compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically in Part 39 - 105, outline the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of Airworthiness Directives. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing 767 Series Aeroplanes, AD/B767/118, mandates actions to address engine thrust control cable issues. The applicability of this directive extends to Model 767 series aircraft powered by either P&W JT9D-7R4 series engines or GE CF6-80A series engines. The requirements under this directive are twofold: first, to inspect the engine thrust control cables in accordance with the technical specifications outlined in Appendix 1 of FAA AD 99-21-18 Amendment 39-11363, and to repair any faults found before further flight. Second, for specific aircraft identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 767-76-0010 Revision 1 dated 20 February 1992, the two non-metallic pulleys of the thrust control cables must be replaced with aluminium pulleys, and the cables re-rigged as per the instructions in Boeing SB 767-76-0010 Revision 1. Aircraft that have already replaced the pulleys according to the original SB 767-76-0010 can be certified as compliant with the second requirement. The directive must be complied with within 18 months from the effective date or 4,500 flight hours, whichever comes first, and thereafter, inspections must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 18 months or 4,500 flight hours. Entities governed by this Airworthiness Directive must ensure that the specified inspections and repairs are carried out as per the technical instructions provided. This includes conducting the inspections and repairs in adherence to the procedures outlined in FAA AD 99-21-18 Amendment 39-11363 and Boeing 767 maintenance manuals. For the aircraft identified in Boeing Service Bulletin 767-76-0010 Revision 1, the replacement of pulleys and re-rigging of cables must be performed according to the instructions in Boeing SB 767-76-0010 Revision 1. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and failure to do so may lead to safety issues and potential legal consequences. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in civil or criminal penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative text provided, non-compliance with CASA directives typically involves enforcement actions that can include fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory sanctions. The severity of these penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but they are intended to ensure adherence to safety standards and prevent unsafe conditions that could endanger flight operations.