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. Seats and Berths AD/SEATS/20 SICMA Passenger Seats (9g) - Backrest Link Inspection and Replacement 3/2002 Applicability: All SICMA Aero SEAT passenger seats 88xx, 89xx, 90xx, 91xx, 92xx, 93xx, 95xx, 96xx series equipped with backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1 and P/N 90-000200- 104-2. Passenger seats 9140, 9166, 9173, 9174, 9184, 9188, 9196, 91B7, 91B8, 91C0, 91C2, 91C3, 91C4, 91C5, 9301, 9501 series are not applicable. This AD is not applicable to seats identified by Amendment Z1 on the modification placard. Note: A detailed list of affected seat P/N's is given in SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013, Revision 2, Annex. Requirement: 1. Carry out a visual inspection of the backrest links and take corrective action in accordance with Part 1 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2. 2. Repeat visual inspection as per requirement 1. 3. Replace backrest links P/N 90-000200-104-1 and 90-000200-104-2 in accordance with Part 2 of SICMA AERO SEAT Service Bulletin 90-25-013 Revision 2. Note: DGAC AD2001-613(AB) refers Compliance: 1. Before 6,000 hours time in service or two years from seat manufacture date or before 6,000 hours time in service or two years since last backrest link installation, or within 900 hours time in service or before five months from the effective date of this AD whichever is the later. 2. Every 900 hours time in service or every five months whichever is the later after 12000 hours time in service or more than four years from the seat manufacturing date, without exceeding 3,500 hours or 18 months after the effective date of this AD, until replacement of the backrest links in accordance with requirement 3. 3. For installed seats: Before 12,000 hours time in service or since last backrest link installation, or before four years from seat manufacturing date or from last backrest link installation, or within the next 3,500 hours in service or before eighteen months from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later. Seats and Berths AD/SEATS/20 (continued) For uninstalled seats: Before installation of seats having more than 12,000 hours time in service or more than four years since seat manufacturing date, or more than 12,000 hours time in service or more than four years since last backrest link installation, whichever occurs later. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 21 March 2002. Background: Cracks have been found in the backrest links which can significantly reduce the structural integrity of seat backrests. David Alan Villiers Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 February 2002 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 February 2002.