{"id":"F2006B02883","name":"AD/B737/180 Amdt 1 - Speedbrake Operation Limitation - 2","slug":"ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":42225,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02883-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B737/180 Amdt 1 - Speedbrake Operation Limitation - 2","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B737/180 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nBoeing 737 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B737/180\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nSpeedbrake Operation Limitation \\- 2 13/2003\n\nApplicability: All Model 737-600, \\-700, and \\-700C series aircraft.\n\nRequirement: Revise the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual to include the following information:\n\n“Do not operate the aircraft at speeds in excess of 300 KIAS with speedbrakes extended”.\n\nWARNING: Use of speedbrakes in excess of 320 KIAS could result in a severe vibration, which in turn, could cause extreme damage to the horizontal stabiliser.\n\nNote 1: This requirement may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual.\n\nNote 2: Modification or retrofit of the elevator tab assembly in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, constitutes terminating action for the Aircraft Flight Manual revision requirement of this Directive.\n\nNote 3: Emergency FAA AD 2002-08-52 refers.\n\nCompliance: Within 24 hours after 15 April 2002, unless already accomplished. Compliance with AD/B737/210 (FAA AD 2003-03-22) constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this Directive.\n\nThe compliance time remains unchanged by this issue. This Amendment becomes effective on 25 December 2003.\n\nBackground: The FAA received a report indicating that severe vibration of the horizontal stabiliser occurred on a Model 737-700 aircraft. The high frequency vibration was initiated by deployment of the speebrakes during descent of the aircraft. The FAA and the manufacturer have determined that the vibration was due to a “limit cycle oscillation” of the elevator and elevator tab assembly attached to the horizontal stabiliser. Severe vibration of the elevator and elevator tab assembly following deployment of the speedbrakes, if not corrected, could result in severe damage to the horizontal stabiliser, followed by possible loss of controllability of the aircraft.\n\nBoeing 737 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B737/180 Amdt 1 (continued)\n\nAmendment 1 is issued to introduce terminating action for the requirements of this Directive.\n\nThe original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 15 April 2002.\n\n![Signature of David Villiers, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.002.png)  \n\nDavid Villiers\n\nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 November 2003\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 3 December 2003.","sortOrder":0}],"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":true,"description":"Amendment 1 modifies the original AD by introducing explicit terminating action: either an approved modification to the elevator tab assembly (approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA) or compliance with specified FAA ADs constitutes terminating action for the AFM revision requirement (Amendment text; Note 2; Compliance). The core immediate AFM revision requirement and compliance deadline remain unchanged (Compliance; \"The compliance time remains unchanged by this issue\")."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability to specific models reduces scope complexity (Applicability).","Simple prescriptive action: revise AFM Limitations to include a single speed limit and warning (Requirement).","Very short mandatory compliance window increases operational urgency and administrative burden (Compliance: within 24 hours after 15 April 2002).","Offers terminating action via hardware modification approved by the Manager, Seattle ACO, FAA, introducing cross‑jurisdictional approval dependency and some procedural complexity (Note 2).","Cross‑references to FAA ADs as terminating/compliance options require operators to track and align with FAA directives (Note 3; Compliance references FAA ADs).","Revocation of earlier AD and issuance as an amendment means implementers must confirm which version applies (Background; Amendment language)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive tells operators of Boeing 737-600, -700 and -700C aircraft to update the Aircraft Flight Manual (Limitations) to prohibit using speedbrakes above 300 KIAS and warns that using speedbrakes above 320 KIAS could cause severe vibration and damage to the horizontal stabiliser. The manual revision must be done quickly (within 24 hours of 15 April 2002) unless already done. The directive also allows that an FAA‑approved modification to the elevator tab assembly, or compliance with specified FAA ADs, ends the manual‑revision requirement."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment remains tightly focused on its original purpose: addressing the speedbrake vibration risk in specific Boeing 737 models. Amendment 1 simply adds a terminating action option (the hardware retrofit) without expanding the applicability, adding new requirements, or addressing unrelated safety issues. The scope has not grown beyond the original unsafe condition identified in April 2002."},"complexity_factors":["Single, clear operational requirement (one sentence flight manual revision)","Only 3 defined aircraft models in applicability section","Simple compliance timeline (single deadline with exception for prior compliance)","Minimal cross-referencing (only references one other AD and one FAA AD for context)","Straightforward terminating action (hardware modification option clearly stated)","Short document length (approximately 400 words)","No nested conditional logic or exceptions to exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD mandates that operators of Boeing 737-600/-700/-700C insert an AFM revision forbidding speedbrake deployment above 300 KIAS, issued after discovery that high‑speed deployment can induce severe tail vibration (limit cycle oscillation) risking horizontal stabiliser damage and potential loss of control. It applied in Australia with a 24‑hour compliance window from 15 April 2002.\n\nBoeing’s elevator‑tab hardware modification is available as terminating action, removing the AFM restriction once installed."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-180-amdt-1-speedbrake-operation-limitation-2/documents"}}