AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.

Boeing 727 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B727/173 Horizontal Stabiliser Hinge AD/B727/173 Horizontal Stabiliser Hinge Pin 13/2001

AD/B727/173 Horizontal Stabiliser Hinge Pin 13/2001

Applicability: All Model 727 series aircraft.

Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-22-12 Amdt 39-12491.

Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 727-55A0090 Revision 1 refers.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document with a revised effective date of 27 December 2001.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 December 2001.

Background: The FAA received reports of cracks and corrosion in the outer hinge pins that attach the horizontal stabiliser to the vertical fin on several Model 727 series aircraft.

Corrosion has also been found on inner fail-safe hinge pins. Such corrosion or cracking could lead to structural degradation of the stabiliser hinge joint and consequent loss of the horizontal stabiliser, which would result in loss of controllability of the aircraft.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 16 November 2001

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 December 2001.