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FAA orders · airworthiness directive · historical

99-18-03: Thrust Reverser

FAA order 99-18-03 is an airworthiness directive in force since September 15, 1999. The FAA's subject line: Thrust Reverser. It names Boeing 747: about 192 aircraft on the U.S. register today, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: engine.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product
Aircraft
Makes
The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company; The Boeing Company
Models
747-100B Series, 747-100B SUD Series, 747-200B Series, 747-200C Series, 747-200F Series, 747-300 Series, 747SP Series
On this site
Boeing 747 192 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
September 15, 1999
Published
August 31, 1999
Docket
99-NM-77-AD
Replaced by
2000-01-05
Status
Historical
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. This action requires repetitive inspections and tests of the thrust reverser control and indication system on each engine, and corrective actions, if necessary; installation of a terminating modification; and repetitive operational checks of that installation, and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by the results of a safety review, which revealed that in-flight deployment of a thrust reverser could result in significant reduction in airplane controllability. The actions specified in this AD are intended to ensure the integrity of the fail-safe features of the thrust reverser system by preventing possible failure modes, which could result in inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (8,667 characters)
99-18-03 BOEING: Amendment 39-11269. Docket 99-NM-77-AD. \n\n\tApplicability: Model 747-100B, -200, -300, and SP series airplanes, equipped with Rolls Royce RB211-524B2, C2, and D4 engines; certificated in any category, as listed in the following service bulletins: \n\nBoeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-78A2148, dated June 1, 1995; \nBoeing Service Bulletin 747-78A2148, Revision 1, dated July 20, 1995; \nBoeing Service Bulletin 747-78-2136, dated May 11, 1995; and \nBoeing Service Bulletin 747-78-2156, dated October 31, 1996. \n\n\tNOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it. \n\n\tCompliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously. \n\n\tTo prevent inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane, accomplish the following: \n\nRepetitive Inspections and Tests \n\n\t(a)\tWithin 90 days after the effective date of this AD: Perform the applicable inspections and tests of the thrust reverser control and indication system on each engine, in accordance with Part III.A. through III.G. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-78A2148, dated June 1, 1995, or Boeing Service Bulletin 747-78A2148, Revision 1, dated July 20, 1995. Repeat the applicable inspections and tests thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months, until accomplishment of paragraph (c) of this AD. \n\nCorrective Actions \n\n\t(b)\tIf any inspection or test required by paragraph (a) of this AD cannot be successfully performed as specified in the service bulletin, or if any discrepancy is detected during any inspection or test, accomplish paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this AD. \n\n\t\t(1)\tPrior to further flight, deactivate the associated thrust reverser in accordance with Section 78-1 of Boeing Document D6-33391, "Boeing 747-100/-200/-300/SP Dispatch Deviations Procedures Guide," Revision 22, dated January 30, 1998. No more than one reverser on any airplane may be deactivated under the provisions of this paragraph. \n\n\tNOTE 2: The airplane may be operated in accordance with the provisions and limitations specified in the operator's FAA-approved Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL), provided that no more than one thrust reverser on the airplane is inoperative. \n\n\t\t(2)\tWithin 10 days after deactivation of any thrust reverser in accordance with this paragraph, the thrust reverser must be repaired in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 747-78A2148, dated June 1, 1995, or Boeing Service Bulletin 767-78A2148, Revision 1, dated July 20, 1995. Additionally, the inspections and tests required by paragraph (a) of this AD must be successfully accomplished as specified in the service bulletin; once this is accomplished, the thrust reverser must then be reactivated. \n\nModification \n\n\t(c)\tWithin 36 months after the effective date of this AD, install an additional locking system on the thrust reversers in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-78-2156, dated October 31, 1996. Prior to or concurrent with accomplishment of Boeing Service Bulletin 747-78-2156, dated October 31, 1996: Accomplish Boeing Service Bulletin 747-78-2136, dated May 11, 1995; and Rolls-Royce Service Bulletins RB.211-71-B545, Revision 2, dated August 8, 1997, RB.211-71-B551, Revision 1, dated March 20, 1998, and RB.211-78-B552, dated June 21, 1996. Accomplishment of these actions constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections and tests required by paragraph (a) of this AD. \n\nOperational Checks \n\n\t(d)\tWithin 3,000 flight hours after accomplishing the modification required by paragraph (c) of this AD, or within 1,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later: Perform operational checks of the number 2 and number 3 gearbox locks and of the air motor brake, in accordance with the procedures described in Chapter 78-30-00, Section 5, of the FAA-approved Boeing 747 Airplane Maintenance Manual (AMM). \n\nCorrective Actions \n\n\t(e)\tIf any operational check required by paragraph (d) of this AD cannot be successfully performed as specified in the procedures described in Chapter 78-30-00, Section 5, of the AMM, or if any discrepancy is detected during any operational check, accomplish paragraphs (e)(1) and(e)(2) of this AD. Repeat the operational checks thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,000 flight hours. \n\n\t\t(1)\tPrior to further flight, deactivate the associated thrust reverser in accordance with Section 78-1 of Boeing Document D6-33391, "Boeing 747-100/-200/-300/SP Dispatch Deviations Procedures Guide," Revision 22, dated January 30, 1998. No more than one reverser on any airplane may be deactivated under the provisions of this paragraph. \n\n\tNOTE 3: The airplane may be operated in accordance with the provisions and limitations specified in the operator's FAA-approved MMEL, provided that no more than one thrust reverser on the airplane is inoperative. \n\n\t\t(2)\tWithin 10 days after deactivation of any thrust reverser in accordance with this paragraph, the thrust reverser must be repaired in accordance the AMM. Additionally, the operational checks required by paragraph (d) of this AD must be successfully accomplished as specified in the AMM; once this is accomplished, the thrust reverser must then be reactivated. \n\nAlternative Methods of Compliance \n\n\t(f)\tAn alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO. \n\n\tNOTE 4: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Seattle ACO. \n\nSpecial Flight Permits \n\n\t(g)\tSpecial flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. \n\nIncorporation by Reference \n\n\t(h)\tExcept as provided by paragraphs (b)(1), (d), (e), (e)(1), and (e)(2) of this AD, the actions shall be done in accordance with the applicable service bulletins, which contain the specified list of effective pages: \n\n\nService Bulletin Referenced and Date\nPage Number \nShown on Page\nRevision Level \nShown on Page\nDate\n Shown on Page\nBoeing 747-78-2136, \nMay 11, 1995 \n1-161 \nOriginal\nMay 11, 1995 \nBoeing 747-78A2148, \nJune 1, 1995 \n1-50\nOriginal\nJune 1, 1995 \nBoeing 747-78A2148,\nRevision 1\nJuly 20, 1995\n 1-50\n1\nJuly 20, 1995\nBoeing 747-78-2156, \n\n1-283\nOriginal\nOctober 31, 1996\nRolls-Royce\nRB.211-78-B552,\nJune 21, 1996 \n 1-33\n\n\nSupplement \n1, 2\nOriginal\n\n\n\nOriginal\nJune 21, 1996 \n\n\n\nJune 21, 1996 \nRolls-Royce\nRB.211-71-B545, \nRevision 2 \nAugust 8, 1997 \n1, 4\n\n\n\n2, 3, 5-45\nSupplement \n1, 2\n 2\n\n\n\nOriginal\n\n 2\nAugust 8, 1997\n\n\n\nDecember 22, 1995\n\nAugust 8, 1997\nRolls-Royce\nRB.211-71-B551,\nRevision 1 \nMarch 20, 1998\n1, 5, 85\n\n\n\n2-4, 6-84,\n86-106Supplement \n1-5\n1\n\n\n\n Original\n\n\n1\nMarch 20, 1998\n\n\n\n June 21, 1996\n\n\nMarch 20, 1998 \n\n\tThis incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. \n\n\t(i)\tThis amendment becomes effective on September 15, 1999.

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Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of October 30, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/99-18-03.json · aircraft systems.