AD/BAe 146/130 Fuselage Airbrake Upper Crossbeam (Cth)

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 39.001(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.

British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes

AD/BAe 146/130 Fuselage - Airbrake Upper Crossbeam 2/2008

Applicability:

BAe 146 and AVRO 146-RJ aircraft, all Models, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

1.    Perform the initial inspection in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 2.B, 2.C and 2.D of BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Inspection Service Bulletin (ISB) 53-200.  The initial inspection includes the replacement of three rivets by three Hi-Lok Pins;

2.    Repeat the inspections in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 2.B, 2.C and 2.D of BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd ISB 53-200;

3.    If damage is found during any inspection, accomplish the necessary repairs in accordance with the Structural Repair Manual.  If the damage is outside allowed repair criteria, embody an approved repair scheme.

Note:  EASA AD 2007-0307 refers.

Compliance:

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

1.    From the effective date of this directive, perform the initial inspection at the threshold specified in paragraph 1.D.(1) or 1.D.(2), as applicable, of BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Inspection Service Bulletin (ISB) 53-200, except that the calendar inspection threshold in paragraph 1.D.(2) is defined from the effective date of the AD and not from the date of receipt of the service bulletin;

2.    Thereafter, repeat the inspections at the intervals specified in paragraph 1.D.(3) of BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd ISB 53-200;

3.    Subsequent to requirement 1 or 2, if required, before next flight.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 February 2008.

Background: The airbrake upper crossbeam on an aircraft failed in-flight.  The crossbeam failure caused damage to the rudder control system, resulting in loss of rudder control.  Loss of rudder control will cause handling difficulties particularly during take-off, approach and landing phases in cross winds.

David Punshon
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

4 January 2008