AD/AMD 20/18 - Fuel Booster Crossfeed Valve Actuator

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the legislative framework governing airworthiness directives in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, this regulation was established to address critical safety concerns within civil aviation, ensuring that aircraft meet stringent airworthiness standards. The legislative instrument F2006B02356, pertaining to the AMD Fan Jet Falcon (Falcon 20/Mystere-Falcon 200) series aeroplanes, was introduced to rectify identified safety issues, particularly focusing on preventing failures that could lead to fuel starvation during flight operations. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting passengers and crew by mitigating the risk of in-flight failures due to water entrapment in the crossfeed valve actuator. The relevant airworthiness directive, AD/AMD 20/18, mandates specific actions for the Mystere Falcon 200 model to rectify the risk of dormant failures in the crossfeed valve actuator, which could result from water entrapment. Compliance with the directive, as referenced in AMD/BA SB F200-64 or Bureau Veritas AD 86-37-17(B), is required before issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness. This directive aims to ensure that all necessary corrective actions are implemented to prevent potential fuel starvation during crossfeed operations, thereby enhancing overall flight safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Mystere Falcon 200 model aeroplanes, irrespective of their serial numbers. This regulation is instrumental in ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating specific actions concerning the fuel booster crossfeed valve actuator to prevent water entrapment. This issue, if left unaddressed, could result in a dormant failure of the crossfeed valve, leading to fuel starvation during crossfeed operations. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved before issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness. The directive references two sets of guidelines for compliance: AMD/BA SB F200-64 or Bureau Veritas AD 86-37-17(B). This regulatory framework applies nationwide within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by CASA to maintain safety standards in civil aviation. Additionally, the application of this directive may be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA. These instruments can provide further detail on implementation procedures, compliance verification, and any amendments to the directive itself. While the primary directive focuses on ensuring the airworthiness of Mystere Falcon 200 aeroplanes, there are no explicit exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds mentioned within the provided text. However, any exclusions or exemptions would typically be detailed in the subordinate instruments or additional CASA communications.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, address the issuance of airworthiness directives that are essential for maintaining the safety and compliance of aircraft in Australia. Within this framework, the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives includes a directive for the Fan Jet Falcon (Falcon 20/Mystere-Falcon 200) series aeroplanes, denoted as AD/AMD 20/18. This directive pertains to the fuel booster crossfeed valve actuator, and it applies to all serial numbers of the Mystere Falcon 200 model (Section 105). The requirement is that the action must be taken in accordance with either AMD/BA SB F200-64 or Bureau Veritas AD 86-37-17(B) (Section 2). Compliance with this directive must be achieved before issuing a Certificate of Airworthiness, ensuring that any issues related to the crossfeed valve are addressed to prevent potential fuel starvation during crossfeed operation (Section 5/86). The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and critical for the safety of the aircraft. Operators of the Mystere Falcon 200 must ensure that the fuel booster crossfeed valve actuator is inspected, tested, and, if necessary, repaired or replaced according to the specified technical standards (AMD/BA SB F200-64 or Bureau Veritas AD 86-37-17(B)). This process must be completed before the aircraft is deemed airworthy and issued a Certificate of Airworthiness. The directive aims to prevent water entrapment in the crossfeed valve actuator, which can lead to a dormant failure of the valve, thereby causing fuel starvation during crossfeed operation (Section 5/86). Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in AD/AMD 20/18 can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. Operators found in breach of these requirements may face civil penalties, including fines, as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, failure to adhere to these directives can result in criminal charges under the Act, with potential penalties including imprisonment. The severity of these penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the provisions of the directive to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants (Section 5/86).