Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. As part of these regulations, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) to address identified safety issues. The AD for British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/BAe 146/106, was issued on 8 August 2003 to address a reported issue with the elevator ‘G’ weight support structure on BAe 146 aircraft pre-modification HCM00654A. The policy objective behind this AD is to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft by requiring inspections in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 27-037 Revision 3, thereby preventing potential complete failure of the support structure which could adversely affect elevator control. This AD was made effective on 7 August 2003 and was subsequently notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, particularly the Airworthiness Directive AD/BAe 146/106, apply specifically to all British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes that have not yet undergone the pre Modification HCM00654A. The directive mandates that these aircraft undergo an inspection of their elevator 'G' weight support structure in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 27-037 Revision 3. This inspection is imperative to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft, particularly given the reported instances of cracks in the elevator 'G' weight support structure, which could lead to complete failure and adversely affect elevator control. The directive, issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), becomes effective from 7 August 2003 and is enforced across the Commonwealth of Australia. The requirement to comply with the directive is absolute for the specified aircraft, with no exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the AD, underscoring the critical nature of the inspection for maintaining aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, particularly the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/BAe 146/106, require the inspection of the elevator ‘G’ weight support structure of all BAe 146 aircraft pre-modification HCM00654A in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 27-037 Revision 3. This action is necessary to address a reported issue of cracks in the elevator ‘G’ weight support structure, which could lead to complete failure and adversely affect elevator control. The compliance section specifies that this inspection must be performed as outlined in the requirement document, and the directive becomes effective as of 7 August 2003. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities governed by it, primarily the operators of the BAe 146 aircraft. They must ensure that the inspection is carried out by qualified personnel following the detailed instructions provided in BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 27-037 Revision 3. This requirement aims to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and prevent any unsafe conditions that could compromise flight safety. Operators are expected to adhere strictly to the AD, ensuring that all necessary inspections and subsequent repairs or replacements are conducted within the specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose penalties on operators who do not adhere to the directive. The specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, but under Australian law, non-compliance with safety regulations can result in substantial fines, legal action, and potential grounding of the aircraft. Such breaches can also lead to civil liability for any accidents or incidents that occur due to non-compliance with the AD. The AD highlights the critical importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and continued airworthiness of aircraft. The directive is a regulatory tool used by CASA to mandate specific actions to correct identified safety issues. For operators, this means that compliance with the AD is not optional; it is a legal requirement that must be met to ensure the safe operation of BAe 146 aircraft. The AD serves as a proactive measure to prevent potential structural failures that could endanger flights and passengers.