{"id":"F2005L01346","name":"AD/B717/13 Amdt 1 - Horizontal Stabilizer Outer Skin Panels","slug":"ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":35130,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L01346-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Boeing 717 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/B717/13 Amdt 1 | Horizontal Stabilizer Outer Skin Panels | 7/2005 |\n| ----------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model 717-200 aircraft, as listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 717-55-0005 Revision 1, dated January 18, 2005 or later revision approved by the FAA as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Inspect in accordance with the requirements of Boeing Service Bulletin 717-55-0005 Revision 1, dated January 18, 2005 or later revision approved by the FAA as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC).If any defects are found during the required inspection, and the service bulletinspecifies contacting Boeing for appropriate action: Before further flight, repair per amethod approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),FAA; or per data meeting the type certification basis of the aircraft approved by aBoeing Company Designated Engineering Representative who has been authorised bythe Manager, Los Angeles ACO, to make such findings.Note: FAA AD 2004-03-21 Amdt 39-13465 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Before the accumulation of 10,000 total flight cycles, or within 15 months after 15 April 2004, whichever occurs later.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 7 July 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |\n| Background:    | This Directive requires an ultrasonic inspection of areas around the barrel nut holes of the outboard skin panels. Material defects may have been introduced during the manufacturing cycle that can lead to cracks forming in the area of the barrel nut holes and an associated loss of strength in the attachments.This amendment is issued to update the revision status of the referenced service bulletin and to allow the use of later revisions of the bulletin, provided they are approved by the FAA as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC). There is no change to the requirements or compliance.                                                                                                                   |\n\n|     | The original issue of this AD became effective on 15 April 2004. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n25 May 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/B717/13 Amdt 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/B717/13 Amdt 1","content":"## AD/B717/13 Amdt 1","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Horizontal Stabilizer Outer Skin Panels","sectionType":"part","heading":"Horizontal Stabilizer Outer Skin Panels","content":"## Horizontal Stabilizer Outer Skin Panels","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"7/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"7/2005","content":"## 7/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment does not broaden the AD's substantive scope. It updates the referenced service bulletin revision status and expressly allows later revisions of the Boeing service bulletin provided those later revisions are approved by the FAA as an AMOC. The AD states there is no change to the inspection or compliance requirements; the amendment is procedural/administrative rather than expanding affected aircraft, inspection requirements, or compliance windows."},"complexity_factors":["Single aircraft type and limited applicability (Model 717-200 as listed in the specified Boeing service bulletin)","External dependence on Boeing Service Bulletin 717-55-0005 Rev 1 (or later FAA‑approved revision) for procedure details","Requirement to use ultrasonic inspection (specialised equipment and trained technicians)","Repairs require FAA Manager (Los Angeles ACO) approval or Boeing DER authorised by that Manager (procedural dependency)","Simple compliance condition with two-part deadline: before 10,000 total flight cycles or within 15 months after 15 April 2004, whichever is later","Amendment is administrative (updates allowed SB revision status) and explicitly states no change to substantive requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this directive does (mechanically)**\n\n- Requires operators of certain Boeing 717-200 aeroplanes to carry out an ultrasonic inspection of the outboard (horizontal stabilizer) skin panels around the barrel nut holes in accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin 717-55-0005 Revision 1 (or a later revision approved by the FAA as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC)). (See: Requirement.)\n- If the inspection finds defects and the service bulletin says to contact Boeing, the aircraft must be repaired before further flight using a method approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (FAA), or using repair data that meets the aircraft's type certification basis and is approved by a Boeing Designated Engineering Representative (DER) authorised by that FAA Manager. (See: Requirement.)\n- The inspection must be done before the aeroplane reaches 10,000 total flight cycles or within 15 months after 15 April 2004, whichever is later. (See: Compliance.)\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- Owners/operators of Model 717-200 aircraft that are listed in Boeing Service Bulletin 717-55-0005 Revision 1 (or a later FAA-approved revision). The directive applies to the individual aeroplanes specified in that service bulletin. (See: Applicability.)\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose and mechanical effect)**\n\n- The stated reason is that material defects introduced during manufacturing may cause cracks to form around the barrel nut holes, weakening the stabilizer attachments. The inspection is intended to detect such defects and require repair before further flight to maintain structural integrity. (See: Background.)\n\n**Who decides and who pays**\n\n- The relevant FAA authority (Manager, Los Angeles ACO) or an authorised Boeing DER decides whether a proposed repair method is acceptable. (See: Requirement.)\n- Operators bear the costs: they must arrange and pay for the ultrasonic inspection, any follow-up engineering evaluation, and any required repairs, and they must do this within the specified compliance window. Grounding for repair may reduce aircraft availability while work is carried out.\n\n**Implementation mechanics, trade-offs and risks**\n\n- The AD references an external Boeing service bulletin as the inspection and procedural source; compliance requires access to that document and to an ultrasonic inspection capability (trained personnel and equipment). (See: Requirement, Applicability.)\n- Repairs for defects require FAA approval (Manager, Los Angeles ACO) or approval by a Boeing DER that the FAA Manager has authorised. This creates a procedural dependency on FAA office decisions and on availability of an authorised DER. (See: Requirement.)\n- The amendment updates the allowed revision status of the service bulletin (so later FAA-approved revisions may be used) but explicitly states there is no change to the substantive inspection requirements or the compliance window. That reduces the risk that operators must rework completed inspections because of this amendment, but continued reliance on FAA AMOC approvals persists. (See: Background.)\n- Opportunity costs to operators include scheduled maintenance time, inspection expense, and possible repair costs and out-of-service time. There is a compliance deadline tied to flight cycles or a calendar window (whichever is later), so operators must track cycles precisely. (See: Compliance.)\n\n**Concrete behaviour changes required**\n\n- Operators must schedule and perform the ultrasonic inspection in the prescribed area, evaluate findings against the service bulletin, contact Boeing when the bulletin directs, and obtain FAA (or authorised DER) approval for any repair method before returning the aeroplane to flight. Records of compliance and any approvals should be kept as required by maintenance and regulatory record-keeping rules. (See: Requirement.)\n\n(References in parentheses indicate the named parts of the AD provided: Applicability, Requirement, Compliance, Background.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment maintains the original scope precisely. The Background section explicitly states: \"There is no change to the requirements or compliance.\" The amendment solely updates the referenced service bulletin revision status and permits later FAA-approved revisions — a technical administrative update that does not expand the safety issue addressed or the aircraft population affected."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific technical requirement (ultrasonic inspection) with clear reference to external Boeing service bulletin","Straightforward applicability limited to one aircraft model (Boeing 717-200)","Simple compliance deadline structure (flight cycles OR calendar date, whichever is later)","Minimal conditional logic — only one exception path for repairs (FAA-approved method or Boeing DER approval)","Short document length with minimal defined terms (only standard aviation acronyms: AMOC, ACO, FAA, DER)","Single cross-reference to related FAA AD (2004-03-21)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific maintenance actions on aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nThis directive orders owners and operators of **Boeing 717-200 aircraft** to conduct an **ultrasonic inspection** of the horizontal stabilizer's outer skin panels — specifically around the \"barrel nut holes\" (fastener holes that attach the skin to the aircraft structure).\n\n**Why it matters:**\nManufacturing defects in these skin panels could cause **cracks to form around the fastener holes**, potentially weakening the aircraft's tail section. The horizontal stabilizer is critical for controlling the aircraft's pitch (nose up/down movement), so structural failure here could be catastrophic.\n\n**Who must comply:**\n- Operators of Boeing 717-200 aircraft listed in a specific Boeing service bulletin\n- Must complete the inspection **before 10,000 flight cycles** OR **within 15 months after 15 April 2004**, whichever comes later\n\n**What changed in this amendment:**\nThis update (Amendment 1) simply allows operators to use **newer versions** of the Boeing service bulletin, provided the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved them. The actual inspection requirements and deadlines remain unchanged from the original 2004 directive."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels","history":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b717-13-amdt-1-horizontal-stabilizer-outer-skin-panels/documents"}}