{"id":"F2012L01609","name":"AD/B737/197 Amdt 3 - Flight Control Modules (FCM) - Replacement","slug":"ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":89586,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2012L01609-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Boeing 737 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/B737/197 Amdt 3 | Flight Control Modules (FCM) - Replacement | 14/2012 |\n| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------ | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | All Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series aeroplanes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | As detailed in the FAA AD 2002-19-51 R1 Amdt 39-12904.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n| Compliance:    | As detailed in FAA AD 2002-19-51 R1 with a revised effective date of 20 September 2002.Compliance with an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the requirements of AD 2002-19-51 R1 are considered acceptable for compliance with the equivalent requirements of this AD.All provisions of AD 2002-19-51 R1 not specifically referenced in an approved AMOC remain fully applicable and must be complied with.                                                                                                                                     |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 27 July 2012.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |\n| Background:    | A batch of Flight Control Modules (FCM) are found to cause blockage of hydraulic fluid resulting in reduced controllability of aeroplanes. This amendment specifies a terminating action when the suspect batch of FCMs are installed.Amendment 3 notates the acceptability of an FAA Approved AMOC for compliance with the equivalent requirements of this AD.Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 September 2002.Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 18 September 2002.The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 September 2002. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nPeter Nikolic  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n25 July 2012","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/B737/197 Amdt 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/B737/197 Amdt 3","content":"## AD/B737/197 Amdt 3","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Flight Control Modules (FCM) - Replaceme","sectionType":"part","heading":"Flight Control Modules (FCM) - Replacement","content":"## Flight Control Modules (FCM) - Replacement","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"14/2012","sectionType":"part","heading":"14/2012","content":"## 14/2012","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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow scope: mandating replacement of defective Flight Control Modules in Boeing 737 aircraft. Amendment 3 does not expand the applicability to new aircraft types or introduce new substantive requirements; it merely clarifies compliance flexibility regarding alternative methods approved by the FAA."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (approximately 300 words)","Only 1 defined term implicitly used (AMOC — explained in text)","Heavy reliance on external document: FAA AD 2002-19-51 R1 (the actual technical requirements are not reproduced here)","Simple conditional logic: if FAA AMOC approved, then acceptable; otherwise follow original AD","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing within the instrument itself"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Boeing 737‑100 through ‑900 series (including ‑200C and ‑700C cargo variants) to replace a batch of defective Flight Control Modules that can block hydraulic fluid and reduce pilot control. \n\nThis amendment permits Australian operators to use FAA‑approved Alternative Methods of Compliance where applicable, while any portions of the FAA AD not covered by an AMOC remain mandatory."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 3 does not alter the core safety requirement to replace the suspect FCM batch but explicitly accepts FAA-approved AMOCs as acceptable means of compliance (Source: \"Compliance: ... AMOC approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ... are considered acceptable\"). The applicability to all listed 737 models remains unchanged (Source: \"Applicability: All Model 737-100 ... -900 series\"). Practically, the amendment shifts some decision-making on alternative compliance to FAA-approved AMOCs while operators retain the cost and operational burden of locating and replacing affected modules (Sources: \"Background\" and \"Compliance\")."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to an external instrument (FAA AD 2002-19-51 R1) makes compliance dependent on another rule and any amendments to it (Source: \"Requirement: As detailed in the FAA AD 2002-19-51 R1 Amdt 39-12904.\").","Broad applicability to all Model 737-100 through -900 series increases logistical scope for parts supply and maintenance scheduling (Source: \"Applicability: All Model 737-100, -200, ... -900 series aeroplanes.\").","The mandated action is hardware replacement (a terminating action), which imposes direct parts, labour and aircraft downtime costs on operators and MROs (Source: \"Background: ... terminating action when the suspect batch of FCMs are installed.\").","Acceptance of FAA-approved AMOCs reduces local discretion but requires operators and CASA to verify equivalence of the AMOC to the AD's requirements (Source: \"Compliance: ... AMOC approved by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ... considered acceptable\").","Multiple amendment and effective dates (revised FAA effective date and CASA amendment effective date) can create scheduling and record-keeping complexity for compliance audits (Source: \"Compliance: ... revised effective date of 20 September 2002.\" and \"This Amendment becomes effective on 27 July 2012.\").","The AD preserves all provisions of the FAA AD not covered by an AMOC, requiring continual cross-checking of obligations that remain in force (Source: \"All provisions of AD 2002-19-51 R1 not specifically referenced in an approved AMOC remain fully applicable\").","Identification of the 'suspect batch' requires traceability to supplier records, inspection and inventory control to determine which aircraft are affected (Source: \"Background: A batch of Flight Control Modules (FCM) are found to cause blockage ...\").","Technical clarity is relatively high because the remedy is a specified replacement (reducing interpretive ambiguity), lowering legal/technical complexity despite logistical burdens."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive mandates replacement of a suspect batch of Boeing 737 Flight Control Modules (FCMs) because the modules can block hydraulic fluid and reduce aircraft controllability. It applies to all 737-100 through -900 series and implements the terminating action set out in the referenced FAA AD. Operators and maintenance organisations must locate and replace affected modules, bearing the cost and downtime; CASA accepts FAA-approved Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) for meeting the requirement."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-197-amdt-3-flight-control-modules-fcm-replacement/documents"}}