{"id":"F2006B02642","name":"AD/B727/120 - Fuel Tank Access Doors","slug":"ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41958,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02642-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B727/120 - Fuel Tank Access Doors","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/B727/120 Fuel Tank Access Doors 9/90\n\nApplicability: All models.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with Boeing SB 727-28-0101. Compliance:  Prior to 30 October 1991.\n\nBackground: The incorporation of the Service Bulletin enables aircraft to comply with FAR 25.963(e) which provides for some fuel tank access panels to have a higher resistance to impact to reduce possibility of penetration from engine debris or objects thrown by the aircraft tyres.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue safety directive. It has not expanded beyond its original narrow purpose of mandating fuel tank access door modifications for one specific aircraft type."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document — only 4 substantive paragraphs","No defined terms section; all language is plain operational English","Single, unambiguous requirement: comply with one referenced Boeing Service Bulletin","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Cross-reference is external (to Boeing SB) rather than internal legislative cross-referencing","Clear applicability statement ('All models') with no exclusions or carve-outs"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** An Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** Requires owners and operators of all Boeing 727 aircraft to modify their fuel tank access doors (the panels you open to inspect or repair fuel tanks) to make them tougher and more resistant to impacts.\n\n**Why:** Some fuel tank access panels were too weak. If an engine broke apart or if the plane's tyres kicked up debris, these panels could be punctured. A punctured fuel tank is obviously very dangerous — fire risk, fuel leaks, potential explosions.\n\n**Who must act:** Anyone operating a Boeing 727 in Australia (all models covered).\n\n**What they must do:** Follow Boeing's official instructions in Service Bulletin 727-28-0101 — a technical manual from the manufacturer detailing exactly how to strengthen or replace these access doors.\n\n**Deadline:** Before 30 October 1991 (this is a historical directive; compliance was required decades ago).\n\n**The bigger picture:** This brings Australian-registered Boeing 727s into line with an American safety standard (FAR 25.963(e)) — showing how aviation safety rules often follow international standards, particularly from the US Federal Aviation Administration."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD text sets a single, specific requirement (incorporate Boeing SB 727-28-0101) for all Boeing 727 models with a fixed compliance date and ties the action to compliance with FAR 25.963(e). The instrument does not indicate any alteration from an earlier scope or intent within the text provided; it appears to state the intended scope directly and without amendment language."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-action directive with a clear compliance deadline","Applicability covers all Boeing 727 models (broad but simple scope)","Relies on an external technical document (Boeing SB 727-28-0101) for implementation details","Cross-references a foreign airworthiness standard (FAR 25.963(e)) for the safety rationale","Lacks procedural detail on enforcement, acceptable methods, or alternative compliance routes","Requires technical maintenance work, creating operational scheduling and parts-supply considerations"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of all Boeing 727 models to perform the modification specified in Boeing Service Bulletin 727-28-0101 by 30 October 1991 to meet FAR 25.963(e) — strengthening fuel tank access panels against engine/tyre debris.  \n\nIt principally affects aircraft owners/operators (who bear costs and scheduling), plus maintenance providers and parts suppliers; compliance preserves airworthiness, while non‑compliance risks enforcement or grounding."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors","history":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b727-120-fuel-tank-access-doors/documents"}}