AD/AMD 20/25 - Wing to Fuselage Upper Fairings

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address a range of aviation safety concerns and operational standards. Specifically, Part 39, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, includes amendments to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. One such amendment is AD/AMD 20/25 concerning Fan Jet Falcon (Falcon 20/Mystere-Falcon 200) series aeroplanes, which was introduced to address the risk of damage to, and the security of, the wing to fuselage upper fairings. The policy objective of this directive is to prevent the loss of these upper fairings, thereby enhancing overall aircraft safety. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring checks and necessary repairs to be completed within specified timeframes to mitigate potential risks associated with the structural integrity of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, applies to all Fan Jet Falcon, Mystere Falcon 20-(x)5, and Mystere Falcon 20 GF aircraft, regardless of their serial numbers. This regulation mandates that unless already addressed, operators must check for damage to and the security of the wing to fuselage upper fairings, and ensure the addition of cup washers below the screw heads of the vertical seam screws of the wing to fuselage upper fairings in accordance with the Maintenance Manual DMD 11752 procedure 53-50-0 § 3. This directive aims to prevent the loss of these upper fairings, as referenced by DGAC AD 96-092-021. Compliance requires that these checks and additions must be completed before 31 January 1997 or within 330 hours of time in service after 20 June 1996, whichever comes first. Following this initial compliance, inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding six months or 300 hours of time in service, whichever occurs first. This legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, applies nationally across Australia, ensuring a uniform approach to the safety and maintenance of these aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) address the safety and maintenance of specific aircraft models, with a particular focus on the Fan Jet Falcon (Falcon 20/Mystere-Falcon 200) series aeroplanes in AD/AMD 20/25. The regulation mandates that certain checks and maintenance tasks be performed on the wing to fuselage upper fairings of the applicable aircraft (section 1). Specifically, operators must ensure that the upper fairings are checked for any damage and that the screws securing these fairings are appropriately supported with cup washers below the screw heads, as per the Maintenance Manual DMD 11752 procedure 53-50-0 § 3. This requirement is to prevent the loss of the upper fairings, a critical safety measure. The obligations under this regulation are clear and require compliance with specific timelines and intervals. Operators of the affected aircraft must conduct an initial check before 31 January 1997 or within 330 hours of the aircraft's time in service after 20 June 1996, whichever comes first (section 2). Following this initial inspection, further inspections must be carried out at intervals not exceeding six months or 300 hours of time in service, whichever occurs first. This ensures that the upper fairings are regularly assessed and maintained, thereby reducing the risk of in-flight failure. Failure to comply with these provisions may result in serious safety issues, and the regulations do not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance in this context. However, non-compliance with civil aviation safety directives generally could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including potential fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory penalties. Ensuring adherence to these safety directives is crucial to maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft involved.