Commonwealth legislation

AD/B747/288 - Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

The bottom line: If you operate a Boeing 747, you must inspect where the tail meets the fuselage for wear damage that could cause the cabin to explosively decompress at altitude.

What it requires: Operators must check the interface between the vertical stabiliser (tail fin) and the fuselage skin for wear damage, and repair any issues found. The work must follow the technical instructions in the US Federal Aviation Administration directive FAA AD 2002-26-15 and Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2478.

Why it matters: Wear at this joint can thin the aircraft's skin and cause cracking. If that happens, the plane could suffer sudden in-flight loss of cabin pressure — a serious safety risk.

Who's affected: Operators of Boeing 747 model aircraft specifically listed in the Boeing service bulletin dated 7 February 2002.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/B747/288 - Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface.

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

View image in the official source

View image in the official source
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 747 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuse

AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface 3/2003

Applicability: Model 747 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2478 dated 7 February 2002.

Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-26-15 Amdt 39-13003.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 20 March 2003.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003.

Background: This Directive requires inspections to detect evidence of wear damage at the interface of the vertical stabiliser and fuselage skin, and corrective actions, if necessary. Wear damage of the fuselage skin could result in thinning and cracking of the skin, and consequent in-flight depressurisation of the aircraft.

Signature of David Villiers, Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2003

View image in the official source

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

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 747 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuse AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface 3/2003

AD/B747/288 Vertical Stabiliser and Fuselage Skin Interface 3/2003

Applicability: Model 747 series aircraft, as listed in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2478 dated 7 February 2002.

Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-26-15 Amdt 39-13003.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 20 March 2003.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 March 2003.

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2003