AD/SF340/107 Fuel System Refuel/Defuel Illuminated Placard (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.

SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes

AD/SF340/107 Fuel System - Refuel/Defuel Illuminated Placard 9/2008

Applicability:	SF340A and 340B aircraft, all serial numbers.
Requirement:	1.    Inspect the refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard Part Number (P/N) 9303719-01 in accordance with the instructions of SAAB Service Bulletin (SB) 340-28-027 dated 30 April 2008.
2.    If signs of heat and/or burn marks are found during the Requirement 1 inspection, replace refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard P/N 9303719-01 in accordance with the instructions of SB 340-28-027.
3.    If signs of heat and/or burn marks are not found during the Requirement 1 inspection, replace refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard P/N 9303719-01 with a unit marked ‘Amdt: A’ and having a manufacturing date of 37/07 or higher, in accordance with the instructions of SB 340-28-027.
4.    Refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard P/N 9303719-01 may not be installed as replacement part on any aircraft, unless it is marked ‘Amdt: A’ and has a manufacturing date of 37/07 or higher.
Later revisions of SB 340-28-027, approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), are acceptable for compliance with the relevant parts of this Directive.
Note:  EASA AD 2008-0127 refers.
Compliance:	For Requirement 1 - Within three months after the effective date of this Directive.
For Requirement 2 - Before the next flight after the Requirement 1 inspection.
For Requirement 3 - Within 12 months after the Requirement 1 inspection.
For Requirement 4 - After 28 November 2009.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 28 August 2008.

Background:

During refuelling, the ground crew detected smoke from the refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard 160VU.  The design of the refuel/defuel panel illuminated placard was changed during 1997 from its original specification, to fill the cavity inside the placard with silicone to avoid moisture/fluid ingress.  SAAB has reviewed the working procedure and has developed a placard filled with a bi-component silicone-based material to minimize the cavity inside the panels.

This Directive requires the identification of the manufacturing date of the affected placard, a visual inspection of the placard for heat and/or burn marks and the installation of a new placard.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

16 July 2008