Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B767/172, was enacted in 2002 to address safety concerns related to the crew rest compartment reading lights in Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that had been modified under the FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00973WI-D. The directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to rectify a potential unsafe condition identified by the FAA, where contact between the sidewall-mounted reading lights and the occupant or flammable materials could lead to injuries or fire hazards. The policy objective of this AD is to ensure the safe operation of aircraft by mitigating these risks through the specified modifications to the reading lights and their installation in the crew rest compartment. The AD requires the removal of existing reading lights and their switches in the attendant crew rest compartment and the installation of cover plates and new reading lights in accordance with the technical requirements set out in FAA AD 2002-06-16 Amdt 39-12694. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 60 days from its effective date of 11 July 2002. This measure was taken to prevent possible injuries from contact with the reading lights and to avoid the risk of charring or melting of flammable materials, which could emit toxic or noxious gases.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B767/172, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that have been modified in accordance with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00973WI-D. This directive mandates that the existing reading lights in the attendant crew rest compartment must be removed and replaced with cover plates, and the existing light switches must be replaced with new reading lights in compliance with FAA AD 2002-06-16 Amdt 39-12694. The directive is intended to address the potential for injury from contact with the sidewall-mounted reading lights, as well as the risk of charring or melting of flammable materials and the emission of toxic gases. The AD became effective on 11 July 2002, with a compliance deadline of 60 days from this date. The directive is applicable nationally, reflecting CASA’s regulatory oversight within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), specifies certain requirements and actions to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. Specifically, Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B767/172 pertains to Boeing 767 Series aeroplanes, more precisely, the 767-300 series that have been modified in accordance with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST00973WI-D. This AD mandates that the existing reading lights in the attendant crew rest compartment must be removed and replaced with cover plates, and the existing light switches must be removed and replaced with new reading lights, in compliance with FAA AD 2002-06-16 Amdt 39-12694. Boeing Service Bulletin 767-33-0093, dated 20 December 2001, also references this directive. The AD imposes clear obligations on the operators of Boeing 767-300 series aeroplanes that have undergone modifications in line with STC ST00973WI-D. The primary obligation is to ensure that the specified modifications are carried out within 60 days from the effective date of the directive, which is 11 July 2002. The modifications include removing the existing reading lights and installing cover plates, as well as removing the existing light switches and replacing them with new reading lights, following the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-06-16 Amdt 39-12694. Failure to comply with these obligations could result in safety risks, such as potential injury to crew members or the emission of toxic gases due to contact between the reading lights and flammable materials. Non-compliance with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive could lead to serious consequences. Although the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the text, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 generally impose penalties for breaches of airworthiness directives, which could include fines, imprisonment, or both. The severity of the penalties may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resulting harm or safety risks. The directive aims to ensure that all necessary safety measures are implemented to prevent accidents and maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.