{"id":"F2005L00095","name":"AD/B737/236 - Centre Fuel Tank FQIS Wire Bundle","slug":"ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":33473,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L00095-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","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/B737/236 | Centre Fuel Tank FQIS Wire Bundle | 2/2005 |\n| ----------- | --------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 series aeroplanes, as listed in Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin (SB) 737-28-1190, Revision 1, dated 27 March 2003. |\n| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | 1. Replace the centre fuel tank wire support bracket for the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) wire bundle with a new, improved bracket, in accordance with SB 737-28-1190, Revision 1. |\n| | 2. Perform a general visual inspection of the FQIS wire bundle for damage as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of SB 737-28-1190, Revision 1. |\n| | Note 1: For the purposes of this Directive, a general visual inspection is defined as: \"A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.\" |\n| | 3. If any damage to the wire bundle is noted during the Requirement 2 visual inspection, repair or replace the damaged wire bundle in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of SB 737-28- 1190, Revision 1. |\n| | Actions accomplished before the effective date of this Directive in accordance with Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28- 1190, dated 16 January 2003, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action specified in this Directive. |\n| | 4. FQIS wire bundle bracket part number 287A9111-3 may not be installed on any aeroplane as a replacement part. |\n| | Note 2: FAA AD 2004-24-07 Amdt 39-13883 refers. |\n| Compliance: | For Requirement 1 - Within 24 months after the effective date of this Directive. |\n\n| | For Requirement 2 - Concurrent with Requirement 1. |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| | For Requirement 3 - Before further flight after the Requirement 2 inspection. |\n| | For Requirement 4 - As of the effective date of this Directive. |\n| | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 17 February 2005. |\n| Background: | The United States Federal Aviation Administration has found an incorrectly installed FQIS wire bundle during an audit. This Directive requires the replacement of the bracket for the wire bundle of the FQIS, performance of a general visual inspection of the FQIS wire bundle for damage and, if necessary, any corrective action.The Directive is issued to prevent chafing of the FQIS wire(s) in the centre fuel tank, which, when combined with a lightning strike or a power wire short to the FQIS wire(s), could result in arcing in the centre fuel tank and consequent fuel tank explosion. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nJames Coyne \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n23 December 2004\n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 January 2005.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/B737/236","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/B737/236","content":"## AD/B737/236","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Centre Fuel Tank FQIS Wire Bundle","sectionType":"part","heading":"Centre Fuel Tank FQIS Wire Bundle","content":"## Centre Fuel Tank FQIS Wire Bundle","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"2/2005","content":"## 2/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope remains focused on Boeing 737-600/-700/-800/-900 aeroplanes listed in Boeing SB 737-28-1190 Rev 1 and on specific actions: bracket replacement, visual inspection, repair if damaged, and prohibition of P/N 287A9111-3 (Applicability; Requirements 1–4). The AD accepts earlier compliance performed under the 16 January 2003 SB (Actions accomplished... acceptable), so it does not broaden obligations beyond the service bulletin's applicability or introduce additional categories of work."},"complexity_factors":["Technical specificity: Mandates a particular hardware change and repair procedure by reference to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-28-1190 Revision 1 (Requirement 1; Requirement 3) — requires operators to follow a manufacturer document.","Inspection standard defined: General visual inspection defined in Note 1, prescribing proximity, lighting and access expectations — reduces interpretive ambiguity but creates a defined labour scope.","Conditional corrective action: Repair/replace only if damage found (Requirement 3) but must be completed before further flight — creates potential immediate grounding and variable cost depending on findings.","Compliance timetable: Staggered deadlines (24 months for bracket replacement; concurrent inspection; immediate repair before flight) increase planning but allow deferment of capital works (Compliance table).","Parts prohibition: Absolute ban on installing bracket P/N 287A9111-3 (Requirement 4) imposes supply-chain and spares management obligations effective immediately.","Grandfathering clause: Actions done before effective date per earlier SB (16 Jan 2003) are acceptable, which complicates record review for compliance auditors (Actions accomplished... acceptable).","External reference: Note 2 cites FAA AD 2004-24-07, implying alignment with foreign regulator requirements and potential cross-jurisdictional documentation needs.","Safety consequence: The rule is risk-driven (Background describes arcing/explosion outcome), which raises operational urgency but does not add procedural discretion to operators or the regulator."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Boeing 737-600/-700/-800/-900 aeroplanes listed in Boeing SB 737-28-1190 Rev 1 to replace the centre fuel-tank FQIS wire-bundle support bracket with an improved bracket, visually inspect the wire bundle, repair/replace any damage, and forbids using bracket P/N 287A9111-3. Compliance: replacement within 24 months, inspection concurrent, repairs before further flight.\n\nThe stated purpose is to prevent chafing that, with electrical faults, could cause arcing and a fuel‑tank explosion; the rule shifts maintenance cost, downtime risk, and parts restrictions to affected operators."},"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":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific wiring safety defect in specific Boeing 737 models. The requirements remain tightly focused on the fuel tank FQIS wire bundle issue identified in the FAA audit, with no evidence of scope creep into unrelated aircraft systems or operational matters."},"complexity_factors":["Single technical subject matter (fuel tank wiring) with clear, sequential requirements","Only 4 substantive requirements with explicit cross-reference to one external technical document (Boeing Service Bulletin 737-28-1190)","One defined term ('general visual inspection') with detailed explanatory note","Simple conditional logic (Requirement 3 only triggers 'if' damage is found in Requirement 2)","Straightforward compliance timeline with clear deadlines","No nested exceptions or complex interplay between sections","Short document (approximately 400 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's aviation regulator (CASA) that requires specific repairs or inspections on certain aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nThis directive orders airlines and aircraft operators to fix a potentially dangerous wiring problem in the centre fuel tanks of specific Boeing 737 models (-600, -700, -800, and -900 series).\n\n**The safety issue:**\nThe Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) — the wiring that tells pilots how much fuel is in the tank — was found to be at risk of **chafing** (rubbing/wearing through its protective covering). If these wires become exposed and then touch metal, and if there's also a lightning strike or electrical short, it could create a spark inside the fuel tank. This could cause a fuel tank explosion.\n\n**What must be done:**\n- **Replace** the old wire support bracket with a new, improved design\n- **Visually inspect** the wiring for any damage (looking for obvious wear, cuts, or problems)\n- **Repair or replace** any damaged wiring found during inspection\n- **Ban** the use of a specific faulty part number (287A9111-3) from being installed\n\n**Who it affects:**\nOwners and operators of Boeing 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 series aircraft in Australia.\n\n**Timeline:**\n- The bracket replacement and inspection must happen within 24 months of February 2005\n- Any repairs must be done before the aircraft flies again\n- The faulty part is banned immediately from the effective date\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is a **critical safety fix** designed to prevent catastrophic fuel tank explosions. It follows a similar order from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after they discovered the wiring problem during an audit."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-236-centre-fuel-tank-fqis-wire-bundle/documents"}}