EASA AD US-2020-17-04
Equipment / Furnishings - Passenger Service Units and Lanyard Assemblies on the Life Vest Panels - Installation
Summary
The Equipment / Furnishings - Passenger Service Units and Lanyard Assemblies on the Life Vest Panels - Installation is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive (AD 2020-17-04) that applies to certain Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD addresses the installation of lanyard assemblies on passenger service units (PSUs) and life vest panels to prevent detachment during survivable accidents. It supersedes a previous directive and mandates additional installation requirements for five specific airplanes.
What Changed
This AD supersedes AD 2019-03-06 by retaining the original requirement to install lanyard assemblies on PSUs and expanding the requirement to include installation of lanyard assemblies on life vest panels for five additional airplanes. It clarifies credit provisions related to service bulletin revisions and confirms that installation of winglets per STC ST01219SE does not affect compliance. Minor editorial changes were also made without increasing the regulatory burden.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses an unsafe condition where PSUs could detach and fall into the cabin during accidents, potentially causing passenger injuries and obstructing evacuation. Operators and maintenance teams must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft safety and regulatory conformity. The expanded scope ensures all affected airplanes have the necessary safety modifications, reducing risk during emergency situations.
What To Do
Operators of affected Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes must install lanyard assemblies on PSUs and, where applicable, on life vest panels according to Boeing Special Attention Service Bulletin 737-25-1728, Revision 1, and Boeing Requirements Bulletin 737-25-1758 RB. Compliance with this AD is mandatory by September 29, 2020. Stakeholders should consult the specified service information and coordinate with Boeing or FAA representatives as needed to complete the installations.
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