{"id":"F2007L03987","name":"AD/B737/308 - Elevator Tab Control Rod Assembly","slug":"ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":160773,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2007L03987-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-04","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/B737/308 | Elevator Tab Control Rod Assembly | 11/2007 |\n| ----------- | --------------------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aeroplanes. |\n| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement: | Do a detailed inspection for discrepancies of the inspection putty of the elevator tab control rod assemblies and/or damage to the surrounding structure, by doing all the actions, including all applicable related corrective actions, as specified in paragraph 3.B. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin737-27A1266, Revision 1, dated 2 January 2007. Do all applicable related corrective actions before further flight, in accordance with the service bulletin.Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737-27A1266, dated 18 September 2003, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions specified in this Requirement.For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: \"An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning and elaborate procedures may be required.''Note: FAA AD 2007-16-05 Amdt 39-15144 dated 30 July 2007 refers. |\n| Compliance: | Within 4,500 flight cycles or 6,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first.Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 4,500 flight cycles or 6,000 flight hours, whichever is first. |\n| | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 October 2007. |\n\n| Background: | This AD results from reports indicating loose jam nuts and/ or thread wear at the rod ends on the elevator tab control rod assembly. The issuing of this AD is intended to find and fix discrepancies of the elevator tab control rod assembly, which could result in excessive freeplay in the elevator tab control rods. Such freeplay could cause loss of both load paths, subsequent elevator tab flutter, and consequent reduced structural integrity and loss of controllability of the aeroplane. |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nCharles Lenarcic \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n6 September 2007","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/B737/308","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/B737/308","content":"## AD/B737/308","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Elevator Tab Control Rod Assembly","sectionType":"part","heading":"Elevator Tab Control Rod Assembly","content":"## Elevator Tab Control Rod Assembly","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"11/2007","sectionType":"part","heading":"11/2007","content":"## 11/2007","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original narrow scope — addressing a specific mechanical defect in elevator control systems on specific Boeing 737 variants. It has not expanded beyond its original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single, specific maintenance task with clear reference to external Boeing technical document","Only one defined term ('detailed inspection') with explicit definition provided","Simple compliance structure: one-time initial inspection plus recurring intervals","Straightforward applicability limited to specific aircraft models","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — only one grandfathering clause for work done under earlier service bulletin","Short document (approximately 300 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires owners/operators of Boeing 737‑100/200/200C/300/400/500 series to inspect elevator tab control rod assemblies per Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737‑27A1266 R1, repair any damage before flight, and repeat inspections every 4,500 flight cycles or 6,000 flight hours. It targets loose jam nuts/worn threads that can cause control freeplay, loss of backup load paths, or elevator‑tab flutter — risks to aircraft controllability. Effective 25 October 2007."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The AD implements inspections and mandatory corrective action consistent with the stated purpose to find and fix elevator tab control rod discrepancies. It does not broaden applicability beyond the listed 737 variants or add obligations beyond requiring compliance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737‑27A1266 Rev 1 (and accepting the earlier bulletin for prior actions). The measure maintains the original focus on detecting loose jam nuts/thread wear and preventing freeplay/flutter-related loss of control."},"complexity_factors":["Dependence on an external technical document (Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737‑27A1266 Rev 1) for procedural and corrective details.","Technical nature of a 'detailed inspection' (may require lighting, mirrors, magnification, surface cleaning and elaborate procedures).","Recurring compliance intervals (every 4,500 flight cycles or 6,000 flight hours) create ongoing monitoring obligations.","Corrective actions must be completed before further flight, potentially grounding aircraft until repairs are done.","Acceptance of earlier service bulletin version for prior compliance introduces record-keeping and equivalence considerations.","Applicability limited to a set of specific Boeing 737 variants (operator applicability filter).","Potential need to inspect/repair surrounding structure, not only rod components, increasing scope of possible work.","Reference to an FAA AD as related material introduces cross-jurisdictional tracing of conforming actions."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires operators of Boeing 737‑100/200/200C/300/400/500 series aeroplanes to perform a detailed inspection of the elevator tab control rod assemblies (inspection putty and surrounding structure) and to carry out all corrective actions specified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737‑27A1266 Revision 1. Inspections must be done within 4,500 flight cycles or 6,000 flight hours and repeated at those intervals; corrective actions must be completed before further flight. The AD aims to detect loose jam nuts or thread wear that could cause freeplay, flutter and loss of control, and imposes inspection/repair costs on 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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-308-elevator-tab-control-rod-assembly/documents"}}