Fuel - Maintenance or Inspection Program - Revision
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must revise their maintenance or inspection programs to incorporate the January 2017 ALS revision by November 19, 2018. They should verify the original certificate of airworthiness date to determine applicability and apply a 24-month grace period for certain compliance tasks if needed. Coordination with the FAA for any exceptional short-term extensions or alternative methods of compliance is required.
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration's Final Rule titled 'Fuel - Maintenance or Inspection Program - Revision' issues a new airworthiness directive (AD 2018-20-24) for certain Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This directive mandates revisions to the maintenance or inspection programs to incorporate updated airworthiness limitations related to fuel tank ignition prevention and the nitrogen generation system. The AD addresses unsafe conditions that could lead to fuel tank explosions or engine flameouts.
What changed
This new AD requires operators to revise their maintenance or inspection programs to include the January 2017 revision of the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) for the affected Boeing 737 models. It excludes airplanes delivered with later ALS revisions as part of their type design and introduces a 24-month grace period for certain compliance tasks. The AD also clarifies unsafe conditions related to engine fuel suction feed and provides guidance on exceptional short-term extensions.
Why it matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it mitigates risks of fuel tank ignition and engine flameouts, which can lead to catastrophic failures. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain airworthiness and avoid potential accidents. The directive also affects compliance planning and maintenance scheduling due to the updated ALS requirements and grace periods.
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