AD/B767/98 - Main Gear Forward Trunnion Joint

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were introduced to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 - 105 focuses on specific airworthiness directives, including AD/B767/98 concerning Boeing 767 series aeroplanes. This directive was established to address the problem of potential failure in the main gear forward trunnion joint, specifically the retaining bolt, which could lead to significant structural issues such as fracture and collapse of the main landing gear. The policy objective behind this directive is to enhance safety by mandating inspections and repairs as specified, thereby mitigating risks associated with aft-acting trunnion loads. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, AD/B767/98 requires inspections of the main landing gear retaining bolt for all Boeing 767 series aircraft, excluding specific line positions, within 500 flight hours or 300 flight cycles following 6 November 1997. This directive became effective on the same date it was issued, aiming to ensure compliance and prevent incidents that could compromise the integrity of the aircraft's landing gear.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, mandates stringent safety measures for the Boeing 767 series aeroplanes, focusing on the main gear forward trunnion joint. This regulation applies to all Boeing 767 series aircraft in line positions from 1 through 600, with exclusions for line positions 579 and 586. The directive necessitates an inspection of the main landing gear retaining bolt in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-32A0157. Compliance with this airworthiness directive is critical, requiring the specified inspection to be conducted within 500 flight hours or 300 flight cycles following 6 November 1997, whichever occurs later. This directive was established in response to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about a disconnected retaining bolt in the main landing gear forward trunnion joint, which could potentially lead to a fracture and collapse of the main landing gear under certain conditions. The directive became effective on 6 November 1997 and is integral to ensuring the safety and airworthiness of Boeing 767 series aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail an airworthiness directive concerning Boeing 767 series aeroplanes, focusing on the main gear forward trunnion joint. Section AD/B767/98 outlines the critical requirement for inspecting the main landing gear retaining bolt in line positions 1 through 600 inclusive, with exceptions for line positions 579 and 586. This inspection must be conducted in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767-32A0157 and is referenced by FAA AD 97-16-03 Amendment 39-10093. The directive applies to Model 767 series aircraft and mandates that the inspection be carried out unless it has already been completed. The compliance deadline is set at 500 flight hours or 300 flight cycles following 6 November 1997, whichever occurs later. The obligations imposed by this airworthiness directive are clear and specific. Operators of Boeing 767 series aircraft must ensure that the main landing gear retaining bolt in the specified line positions is inspected in accordance with the stipulated Boeing bulletin. The directive's effective date is 6 November 1997, which means that compliance must be achieved within the prescribed timeframes. The directive's intent is to prevent aft-acting trunnion loads from transferring to the main gear beam, thus avoiding potential fracture and collapse of the main landing gear. This ensures the ongoing safety and airworthiness of the aircraft in operation. In the event of non-compliance with the airworthiness directive, there are significant consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within the text provided, breaches of airworthiness directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in severe penalties. These may include civil penalties, which can be substantial, and potentially criminal charges for operators or individuals responsible for ensuring compliance. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations and take appropriate action against non-compliance, which may include grounding the aircraft until the necessary inspections are completed and compliance is verified. Such enforcement actions are critical to maintaining the high safety standards expected in civil aviation.