AD/B737/186 - Aileron Tab Control Rod Barrel (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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 737 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B737/186 Aileron Tab Control Rod Barrel 8/2002

Applicability: All Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft.

Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2002-10-12 Amdt 39-12758.

Note: Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-27-1223, dated 21 October 1999, refers.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 8 August 2002.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 8 August 2002.

Background: During a repair of an aircraft outer wing following ground ha ndling damage, an aileron tab control rod barrel was found broken in half. Investigation revealed that an internal thread relief groove had been mislocated during manufacture to produce an extremely thin wall thickness. Failure of a tab control rod barrel could result in disconnection of the aileron tab, severe airframe vibration, consequent wing and control surface damage, and possible loss of control of the aircraft.