{"id":"F2006B03085","name":"AD/B747/184 - Auxiliary Power Unit Battery Ground","slug":"ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":42444,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03085-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B747/184 - Auxiliary Power Unit Battery Ground","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 747 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B747/184 Auxiliary Power Unit Battery Ground 9/98\n\nApplicability: All Model 747-400 series aeroplanes with line positions 1 through 1092 inclusive.\n\nRequirement: If not previously accomplished, reconfigure the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) grounds to a dual-direct ground, single lug configuration in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-24A2214 dated 19 June 1997.\n\nNote: FAA AD 98-09-29 Amdt 39-10510 refers.\n\nCompliance: Prior to 30 June 1999.\n\nThis airworthiness directive becomes effective on 13 August 1998.\n\nBackground: The Federal Aviation Administration has advised that several reports have been received of smoke or fire coming from the APU, investigation has revealed that the smoke and fire was caused by battery grounds that were not installed or maintained properly. This directive is intended to prevent overheating and heat damage of the battery grounds.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive addressing a specific mechanical defect in a specific aircraft model range. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of preventing APU battery ground overheating."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 200 words)","Only 1 defined term (line positions, implicitly defined by range)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single note about related FAA directive","Single unconditional requirement with clear applicability criteria","No exceptions, exemptions, or conditional logic","Technical but straightforward mechanical instruction"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that requires specific repairs or modifications to aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** It orders airlines and aircraft owners to fix a dangerous electrical problem on Boeing 747-400 planes. Specifically, they must rewire how the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) — a small engine at the back of the plane that provides power when the main engines are off — connects to the aircraft's electrical ground system. The fix changes it to a \"dual-direct ground\" setup using a single connection point (lug).\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone operating Boeing 747-400 aircraft with serial numbers (line positions) 1 through 1092 — essentially the early production run of this model.\n\n**Why it matters:** The FAA (America's aviation regulator) found that improper battery grounding was causing smoke and fires in the APU. This is a serious fire risk, especially since the APU is often running while passengers are boarding or deplaning. The directive prevents overheating and potential fires by ensuring proper electrical grounding.\n\n**The deadline:** Aircraft operators had to complete this modification before 30 June 1999."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive implements the action that the Background states it was intended to achieve: reconfigure APU battery grounds to prevent overheating and heat damage (Background; Requirement). The applicability, required action and compliance deadline in the text align with that stated intent; there is no indication in the text that the scope has been expanded or narrowed from the stated purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Technical nature of the required modification (APU grounding reconfiguration) that requires maintenance expertise (Requirement).","Reference to an external technical document (Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-24A2214), creating a dependency on that bulletin for implementation details (Requirement).","Fixed compliance deadline that requires operational scheduling and may cause downtime (Compliance).","Limited applicability to a defined set of aircraft (Model 747-400, line positions 1–1092) which narrows but does not eliminate administrative steps to identify affected units (Applicability).","Cross-reference to FAA AD (98-09-29) introduces coordination with another regulator's action but does not change the single, straightforward requirement (Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This directive requires owners/operators of Boeing 747-400 aeroplanes (line positions 1–1092) to reconfigure the APU battery grounding to a \"dual-direct ground, single lug\" arrangement per Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-24A2214. The work must be done before 30 June 1999 to address reported APU battery-ground–related smoke/fire risks. Operators bear the cost and operational impact of performing the mandated modification."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground","history":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b747-184-auxiliary-power-unit-battery-ground/documents"}}