{"id":"F2006B02660","name":"AD/B727/138 - Main Cargo Door","slug":"ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":41976,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02660-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B727/138 - Main Cargo Door","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/B727/138 Main Cargo Door 1/92\n\nApplicability: Model 727 series as listed in the requirement document.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-22-04 Amdt 39-8064.\n\n \n\nNote: Boeing SB 727-52-0142 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: As specified in the requirement document with a revised effective date of 12 January 1992 for Australian Registered Aircraft.\n\n \n\nBackground: This AD arises from reports of worn latch cams and worn pressure relief door hinge fittings, and a report of a main cargo door that opened in flight. The effective date required by the FAA is extended by approximately one month.\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 addresses a specific mechanical defect on a specific aircraft type. There is no indication of scope creep; it does exactly what Airworthiness Directives are designed to do — mandate a specific safety fix for a specific problem."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly referenced (the FAA AD number)","Single, clear compliance pathway (follow the FAA directive)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Straightforward applicability (specific aircraft model series)","Cross-reference to external technical document rather than internal legislative structure"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety notice issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nOrders owners and operators of **Boeing 727 series aircraft** to inspect and fix a specific safety problem with the **main cargo door**. The door has been found to have worn parts (latch cams and hinge fittings) that could cause it to open mid-flight — which has already happened at least once.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Anyone who owns or operates a Boeing 727 aircraft registered in Australia\n- Maintenance engineers working on these aircraft\n\n**What must be done:**\n- Follow the technical instructions in an American safety notice (FAA AD 91-22-04)\n- Also refer to Boeing Service Bulletin 727-52-0142 for guidance\n- Complete the work by **12 January 1992** (Australia's deadline, slightly later than the US deadline)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nA cargo door opening during flight is extremely dangerous. It can cause rapid decompression, damage to the aircraft structure, and potentially loss of control. This directive prevents that by forcing operators to check and repair worn components before they fail."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The AD adopts the technical requirements of FAA AD 91-22-04 (Requirement) without changing those technical steps, but CASA altered the compliance timing for Australian-registered aircraft by revising the effective date to 12 January 1992 (Compliance; Background). Therefore the technical scope (what must be done and to which models) is unchanged from the referenced FAA AD, while the timing for Australian operators is adjusted."},"complexity_factors":["Relies on external documents for technical detail: FAA AD 91-22-04 Amdt 39-8064 and Boeing SB 727-52-0142 (Requirement; Note).","Applicability limited to specific Model 727 series listed in a separate requirement document, so operators must confirm whether their aircraft are listed (Applicability).","Compliance timing differs from the FAA's original effective date — CASA set a revised effective date for Australian-registered aircraft, adding one procedural variation to follow (Compliance; Background).","AD text is short and procedural; it does not include step-by-step technical instructions, requiring cross-referencing and interpretation of the external AD and service bulletin (Requirement; Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of certain Boeing 727s to inspect and, if needed, repair or replace main cargo door latch cams and pressure‑relief hinge fittings by following FAA AD 91‑22‑04 and Boeing Service Bulletin 727‑52‑0142 to prevent possible in‑flight door opening.  \n\nIt affects aircraft owners/operators (who bear inspection, parts and labour costs); CASA set the Australian effective date as 12 January 1992."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door","history":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b727-138-main-cargo-door/documents"}}