AD/BAe 146/12 Amdt 1 - Elevator `G Weight Damper

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, including AD/BAe 146/12 Amendment 1, which pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes. Enacted to address specific safety concerns related to the elevator 'G' weight damper, this legislation mandates particular modifications to ensure the aircraft's operational safety. The problem this Act was introduced to address includes control column oscillation at 2.5 Hz and the need for increased stick centring force following an autopilot cutout. These issues are targeted to ensure compliance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 27-77-00955 A & C Rev 2, with all relevant aircraft models required to implement the prescribed actions prior to 30 September 1989. The policy objective, as stated, is to enhance the safety standards of the BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes by enforcing these modifications.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandate airworthiness directives for aircraft within Australia, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) overseeing compliance. The directive AD/BAe 146/12 Amendment 1 pertains to all models of the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes that are referenced by serial numbers in the Requirement document. This regulation necessitates actions in accordance with BAe Service Bulletin 27-77-00955 A & C Revision 2, which addresses control column oscillation at 2.5 Hz and increasing stick centring force following an autopilot cutout. The directive applies to aircraft that must comply with these modifications before 30 September 1989, with Amendment 1 encompassing additional work, extending to other series aircraft and incorporating variations based on the modification state of the aircraft. The geographic scope of this regulation is national, enforcing compliance across all Australian jurisdictions as per CASA’s standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 and Section 105, establish the schedule of airworthiness directives for aircraft types. In the context of British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, AD/BAe 146/12 Amendment 1 focuses on modifications to the elevator ‘G’ weight damper. This airworthiness directive applies to all models of BAe 146 with serial numbers as referenced in the requirement document (Section 105). The modifications are in response to issues such as control column oscillation at 2.5 Hz and the need to increase stick centring force after an autopilot cutout. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and actions must be taken in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 27-77-00955 A & C Rev 2, with specific actions required to be completed prior to 30 September 1989. The obligations imposed by these regulations on the parties involved, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers, are quite stringent. They must ensure that all required modifications are completed according to the specified service bulletin and within the mandated timeframe. This includes conducting thorough inspections, making necessary repairs or replacements, and maintaining comprehensive records of all actions taken to comply with the directive. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and substantial financial and operational repercussions. In terms of the consequences for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Regulations impose both civil and criminal penalties. For civil penalties, non-compliance can result in significant fines, with amounts determined by the severity and frequency of the breach. For instance, the maximum penalties can include fines of up to $200,000 for individuals and substantially higher amounts for corporations, depending on the jurisdiction and the specific breach. Additionally, criminal penalties may apply, particularly in cases of gross negligence or deliberate non-compliance, where individuals could face imprisonment. These severe consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the airworthiness directives and maintaining the highest safety standards in civil aviation.