{"id":"F2006B02978","name":"AD/B737/77 Amdt 1 - Pilot and Co-Pilot Seats","slug":"ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":42337,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B02978-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B737/77 Amdt 1 - Pilot and Co-Pilot Seats","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nBoeing 737 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B737/77\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nPilot and Co-Pilot Seats 13/97\n\nApplicability: Model 737 series aircraft equipped with IPECO Model 093 pilot and copilot seats, with seat serial numbers up to and including 21121.\n\nRequirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 97-19-03 Amdt 39- 10123.\n\nNote: IPECO Service Bulletins A001-25-74 Issue 2 and A001-25-92 Issue 1 refer.\n\nCompliance: Before 4 March 1998.\n\nThis airworthiness directive becomes effective on 4 December 1997.\n\nBackground: The FAA received reports of pilot seats that failed to lock horizontally due to the tracklock pin detaching from its housing and wedging in the mechanism. This condition could lead to the inability of the pilot to control the aircraft.\n\nAmendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires a re-inspection of the seats due to reports of a failure of the horizontal locking and other defects of aircraft seats previously inspected.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 expands the original directive by requiring a re-inspection of the same seats after reports of continued failures of the horizontal locking mechanism. The AD thereby adds a repeated inspection requirement beyond the prior inspection actions described in the original AD."},"complexity_factors":["Technical dependency on an external FAA AD (FAA AD 97-19-03) — requires cross-referencing and following foreign authority documents.","Reference to manufacturer service bulletins (IPECO A001-25-74 Issue 2 and A001-25-92 Issue 1) for corrective action details.","Limited applicability by seat model and serial-number range (IPECO Model 093, serials up to 21121) requiring operator fleet checks.","Fixed compliance deadline (before 4 March 1998) creating scheduling and operational impacts for affected aircraft.","Safety-critical mechanical failure mode (tracklock pin detachment) that may require parts replacement or mechanical repair, with associated maintenance costs and potential aircraft downtime."],"plain_english_summary":"This airworthiness directive requires operators of Boeing 737s fitted with IPECO Model 093 pilot and co‑pilot seats (serial numbers up to 21121) to carry out the inspection and corrective actions specified in the referenced FAA AD and IPECO service bulletins by 4 March 1998. It responds to reports that a tracklock pin can detach and prevent horizontal seat locking, creating a risk that a pilot cannot properly control the aircraft. Operators must arrange and pay for inspections and any repairs."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment stays tightly focused on its original purpose: ensuring pilot seat safety on Boeing 737 aircraft. The amendment simply updates the technical requirements based on new failure data from the US regulator, without expanding to other aircraft types, seat models, or unrelated safety systems."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined applicability criterion (specific seat model and serial number range)","Single compliance action (follow FAA directive)","No nested conditions or exceptions","No cross-references to other Australian legislation beyond the enabling regulations","Straightforward temporal compliance deadline"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **safety order for Boeing 737 aircraft seats**. It requires airlines and aircraft operators to inspect and fix a dangerous defect in the pilot and co-pilot seats made by IPECO (model 093).\n\n**The problem:** The seats can fail to lock in place horizontally. The locking pin can fall out and jam the mechanism, which could prevent pilots from reaching the controls properly — a serious flight safety risk.\n\n**Who must act:** Anyone operating a Boeing 737 with these specific IPECO seats (serial numbers up to 21121).\n\n**What they must do:** Follow the technical instructions in an American aviation safety order (FAA AD 97-19-03). There are also two service bulletins from the seat manufacturer that provide guidance.\n\n**When:** The work had to be completed before 4 March 1998.\n\n**Why it matters:** This amendment strengthens the original safety order because the first round of inspections didn't catch all the problems. Seats were still failing, so regulators ordered a re-inspection to ensure pilots don't lose control of their seating position during flight."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats","history":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b737-77-amdt-1-pilot-and-co-pilot-seats/documents"}}