COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AMD Falcon 50 and 900 Series Aeroplanes
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 39.1 (1) of CAR 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 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.
AD/AMD 50/19 Speed Limitation - Arthur "Q" Feel Unit Failure 2/2000
DM
Applicability: Models MF50, F900EX and MF 900.
Requirement: If the control feel in pitch feels lighter than usual, reduce airspeed to 260KIAS or MI
0.76 maximum.
Note: DGAC AD 1999-464-029(B) refers.
Compliance: Insert a copy of this Directive into the appropriate Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) before further flight after the effective date of this Directive.
This Directive may be removed from the AFM following receipt, and incorporation into the AFM of whichever of the following documents is appropriate:
MF900 Airplane Flight Manual DTM20102/20103. - Temporary change No. 80, MF900 Airplane Flight Manual FM900C - Temporary Change No. 4,
F900EX Airplane Flight Manual DTM 561 - Temporary Change No. 46, MF50 Airplane Flight Manual DTM803/813 - Temporary Change No. 50, or MF50 Airplane Flight Manual FM813EX - Temporary Change No. 49.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 12 January 2000.
Background: A Mystere Falcon 900 recently experienced difficulties during descent arising from severe pitch oscillation. Although the root cause has yet to be established, the DGAC considers the pitch oscillation severity would have been reduced by limiting the airspeed when the pitch feel caution light illuminated.
The system is similar across several Falcon models hence the necessity for this Directive on all models.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 January 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 January 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted in 1998, were introduced to regulate civil aviation safety and ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. These regulations are overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and provide a comprehensive framework to maintain the highest standards of safety and efficiency in civil aviation. One specific legislative instrument under these regulations, AD/AMD 50/19, was issued in January 2000 to address a potential safety issue with the Arthur "Q" Feel Unit in certain Falcon 50 and 900 series aeroplanes. The directive requires pilots to reduce airspeed if the control feel in pitch feels lighter than usual, aiming to mitigate the risk of severe pitch oscillations during flight. This Airworthiness Directive was issued to ensure the continued safe operation of these aircraft models and to provide clear guidance to operators and pilots regarding necessary precautions.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, include Airworthiness Directives (AD) that apply to certain aircraft models to ensure their safe operation. AD/AMD 50/19 applies to Mystere Falcon 50 and 900 series aeroplanes, specifically models MF50, F900EX, and MF 900. This AD is designed to mitigate an unsafe condition where the control feel in pitch feels lighter than usual. In such circumstances, the AD mandates that the airspeed be reduced to a maximum of 260 KIAS or Mach 0.76 to prevent severe pitch oscillations, which can compromise flight safety. The AD is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate and becomes effective on 12 January 2000. Compliance with this AD involves inserting a copy into the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) before further flight and retaining it until it is replaced by an appropriate updated manual, as referenced in the AD. This legislative instrument extends its reach to ensure uniformity in safety standards across the specified aircraft models within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in PART 39 - 105, addresses critical safety concerns for certain Falcon aeroplane models. This directive, identified as AD/AMD 50/19, is issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998 and pertains to the Falcon 50 and 900 Series aeroplanes, namely the MF50, F900EX, and MF900 models. It mandates that if pilots experience a lighter-than-usual control feel in pitch, they must reduce the airspeed to a maximum of 260 KIAS or Mach 0.76 until the issue is resolved. The requirement is detailed under the applicability section, specifying the Falcon models this directive applies to. The compliance section stipulates that a copy of this directive must be incorporated into the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) of the affected aircraft before any further flight is undertaken after the directive's effective date.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of the mentioned Falcon models. Primarily, it requires the operators to adhere to the airspeed limitation specified in the directive whenever the pitch feel caution light illuminates. This is to mitigate the risk of severe pitch oscillations that could potentially compromise flight safety. Additionally, operators must ensure that the AD is properly integrated into the AFM of the aircraft. Once incorporated, the AD can be replaced with one of the specified temporary changes, ensuring the AFM remains up-to-date with the latest safety directives. The directive also mandates the insertion of the AD into the AFM before further flight post its effective date, which is 12 January 2000, as per the compliance section.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant safety risks. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, non-compliance with such directives typically results in severe consequences under civil aviation law. This can include fines, penalties, and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The primary focus of the AD is to ensure that the risk of severe pitch oscillations is minimised, thereby maintaining the highest standards of flight safety. It is imperative that all operators adhere to these directives to avoid any legal repercussions or compromising the safety of their flights.