AD/B747/291 - Nose Wheel Well Panel Rivets (Cth)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety 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 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.

Boeing 747 Series Aeroplanes

AD/B747/291 Nose Wheel Well Panel Rivets 8/2003

Applicability: Model 747-400 and -400F series aircraft, line numbers 1141 through 1183. Requirement: Action in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2003-10-09 Amdt 39-13154.

Note: Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-53A2472, including Appendix A refers.

Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 7 August 2003.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 7 August 2003.

Background: The FAA requires inspection of the rivets in the forward, top, and side panels of the nose wheel well for discrepancies; and eventual terminating action. Discrepancies of rivets in the nose wheel well panels due to incorrect heat treatment, could result in failure of the rivets and consequent reduced structural integrity of the panels, and possible rapid depressurisation of the aircraft.

David Punshon Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 June 2003