AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Seats and Berths
AD/SEATS/20 SICMA Passenger Seats (9g) - Backrest Link
Inspection and Replacement
3/2002
Applicability: All SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats 88xx, 89xx, 90xx, 91xx, 92xx, 93xx, 95xx, 96xx series equipped with backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1 and P/N 90-000200- 104-2. Passenger seats 9140, 9166, 9173, 9174, 9184, 9188, 9196, 91B7, 91B8,
91C0, 91C2, 91C3, 91C4, 91C5, 9301, 9501 series are not applicable.
This AD is not applicable to seats identified by Amendment Z1 on the modification placard.
Note: A detailed list of affected seat P/N’s is given in SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013, Revision 2, Annex.
Requirement: 1. Carry out a visual inspection of the backrest links and take corrective action in accordance with Part 1 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2.
2. Repeat visual inspection as per requirement 1.
3. Replace backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1 and 90-000200-104-2 in accordance with Part 2 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2.
Note: DGAC AD2001-613(AB) refers
Compliance: 1. Before 6,000 hours time in service or two years from seat manufacture date or before 6,000 hours time in service or two years since last backrest link installation, or within 900 hours time in service or before five months from the effective date of this AD whichever is the later.
2. Every 900 hours time in service or every five months whichever is the later after 12000 hours time in service or more than four years from the seat manufacturing date, without exceeding 3,500 hours or 18 months after the effective date of this AD, until replacement of the backrest links in accordance with requirement 3.
3. For installed seats: Before 12,000 hours time in service or since last backrest link installation, or before four years from seat manufacturing date or from last backrest link installation, or within the next 3,500 hours in service or before eighteen months from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
Seats and Berths
AD/SEATS/20 (continued)
For uninstalled seats: Before installation of seats having more than 12,000 hours time in service or more than four years since seat manufacturing date, or more than 12,000 hours time in service or more than four years since last backrest link installation, whichever occurs later.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 21 March 2002.
Background: Cracks have been found in the backrest links which can significantly reduce the structural integrity of seat backrests.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) SEATS/20 under the authority granted by subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 on 7 February 2002, aiming to address an identified safety issue concerning cracks in the backrest links of certain SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats. This AD applies to specific series of SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats equipped with certain backrest links. The directive mandates a visual inspection and replacement of these links to prevent any compromise in the structural integrity of the seat backrests, thereby ensuring the continued safety of air travel. This directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002 and became effective on 21 March 2002, establishing clear timelines and procedures for compliance to mitigate the identified risk.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats from certain series that are equipped with particular backrest link parts numbers. This directive does not extend to seats identified by Amendment Z1 on the modification placard, and certain seat series are explicitly excluded from its scope. The directive applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, and its requirements are to be met by the aircraft or aeronautical product owners and operators. The AD mandates a visual inspection of the backrest links and corrective actions as outlined in the SICMA Aero SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2, with specific timelines for inspections and replacements based on hours in service or time since manufacture or last installation of the backrest links. This AD became effective on 21 March 2002 and was gazetted on 27 February 2002.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains specifically to SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats that are equipped with certain backrest links. The directive requires several actions to be taken to address potential safety concerns with these links. Section (a) requires that a visual inspection of the backrest links be conducted, and any necessary corrective action be taken as outlined in Part 1 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2. Section (b) mandates a repeat of the visual inspection as specified in Section (a). Section (c) requires the replacement of backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1 and 90-000200-104-2 in accordance with Part 2 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2. The AD applies to certain SICMA Aero passenger seats equipped with the specified backrest links, excluding those identified by Amendment Z1 on the modification placard.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs. Primarily, it requires the visual inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the identified backrest links to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. These inspections and replacements must be carried out in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in the SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2. Additionally, the AD specifies precise timelines for when these inspections and replacements must occur. For instance, inspections are required before 6,000 hours of time in service or two years from the seat manufacturing date, whichever comes later.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can lead to significant consequences. The AD does not explicitly mention specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally considered a breach of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. This can result in severe penalties, including fines, enforcement actions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the issues are rectified. The exact penalties can vary, but they can be substantial given the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft.