{"id":"F2006B03335","name":"AD/B767/159 Amdt 1 - Vertical Fin to Body Section 48 Attachment","slug":"ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":42772,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B03335-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/B767/159 Amdt 1 - Vertical Fin to Body Section 48 Attachment","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 \\- 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nAIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nFor the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/B767/159 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.\n\n![](image.001.png)  \n\nBoeing 767 Series Aeroplanes\n\nAD/B767/159\n\nAmdt 1\n\n  \nVertical Fin to Body Section 48 Attachment 9/2003\n\nApplicability: Model 767-200 and \\-300 series aircraft, line numbers 1 through 574.\n\nRequirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2003-10-11 Amdt 39-13156.\n\nNote: Boeing Service Bulletin (SB) 767-53-0085, SB 767-53A0085 Revision 1, SB 767-53A0085 Revision 2, and SB 767-53A0085 Revision 3 refer.\n\nCompliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 4 September 2003.\n\nThis Amendment becomes effective on 4 September 2003.\n\nBackground: The FAA received several reports of corroded and/or broken vertical fin to body section 48 attachment barrel nuts on certain Model 767-200 and \\-300 aircraft. Further investigation revealed that the broken barrel nuts fractured due to stress corrosion cracks that started at corrosion pits. Examination of the vertical fin attachment bolts showed inadequate sealant on the bolt threads and shank. Reduced structural integrity of the vertical fin attachment joint could result in loss of the vertical fin and consequent loss of controllability of the aircraft.\n\nAmendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which reduces compliance time for the inspections, changes the torque specification, and mandates eventual replacement of all H-11 steel alloy barrel nuts and bolts with Inconel nuts and bolts.\n\nThe original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 December 2001.\n\n![Signature of David Villiers, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.](image.002.png)  \n\nDavid Villiers\n\n![](image.001.png)Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 22 July 2003\n\nThe above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 August 2003.\n\n  \n\nPage 1 of 1","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendment 1 narrows compliance timing and expands mandated corrective action compared with the original 2001 AD: it reduces inspection intervals, revises torque specifications, and requires eventual replacement of H‑11 steel alloy barrel nuts and bolts with Inconel (Amendment 1; Background). The original AD (effective 27 December 2001) did not include these tighter deadlines and mandatory replacements."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to an external FAA airworthiness directive (FAA AD 2003-10-11) that contains the detailed technical requirements (Requirement).","Multiple Boeing Service Bulletins cited as the technical guidance to implement inspections and replacements (Note: SB 767-53-0085 and revisions).","Technical nature of inspections: detection of corrosion, stress‑corrosion cracking, and verification of torque and sealant adequacy (Background; Requirement).","Mandated staged work: shortened inspection intervals, changed torque specification, and eventual mandatory replacement of H‑11 steel nuts/bolts with Inconel (Amendment 1).","Applicability limited by model and line numbers (Model 767-200 and -300, line numbers 1–574), requiring fleet-level tracking by operators (Applicability).","Compliance scheduling and the revised effective date impose operational planning and parts‑supply logistics on operators (Compliance; Amendment effective date).","Safety‑critical outcome: failed fasteners can reduce structural integrity of the vertical fin attachment, linking inspection results to potential grounding or immediate repair actions (Background).","Regulatory coordination: CASA revokes prior AD and follows FAA technical lead, constraining domestic discretion by adopting FAA requirements (preamble and Requirement)."],"plain_english_summary":"This amendment requires inspections, earlier compliance, revised torque settings, and eventual replacement of vertical‑fin‑to‑body attachment nuts and bolts on specified Boeing 767‑200/‑300 aircraft. It follows FAA findings that corroded H‑11 steel barrel nuts fractured after inadequate sealant—weakening the fin attachment—and directs operators to follow FAA AD 2003‑10‑11 and Boeing service bulletins."},"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":true,"description":"The original December 2001 directive required inspections only. This amendment significantly expands the scope by: (1) shortening compliance times, (2) changing torque specifications, and (3) mandating eventual replacement of all H-11 steel alloy barrel nuts and bolts with Inconel hardware. The directive evolved from a 'check for problems' approach to a 'find and permanently fix' mandate."},"complexity_factors":["Short single-page document with straightforward structure (Applicability, Requirement, Compliance, Background)","Only 4 defined/document references (FAA AD 2003-10-11 and three Boeing Service Bulletins)","Single cross-reference to US regulatory instrument rather than complex domestic legislative web","Clear conditional logic limited to aircraft model and line number range","No nested exceptions or layered definitions","Technical complexity exists in referenced external documents (FAA AD and Boeing SBs) rather than in this instrument itself"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA safety order requires operators of Boeing 767-200/300 aircraft (line numbers 1–574) to inspect and ultimately replace the vertical tail‑fin attachment nuts and bolts after FAA findings of stress‑corrosion cracking that could allow the fin to detach in flight. \n\nThe September 2003 amendment shortens inspection deadlines, updates torque requirements, and mandates replacing H‑11 steel barrel nuts and bolts with corrosion‑resistant Inconel hardware."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment","history":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-b767-159-amdt-1-vertical-fin-to-body-section-48-attachment/documents"}}