AD/BAe 146/19 - Air Cruisers Evacuation Slide/Slide Raft

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Australian Parliament, form a critical part of the legal framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. This legislation, specifically PART 39 - 105, incorporates the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addressing safety concerns and ensuring that aircraft operate to the highest safety standards. One such directive, AD/BAe 146/19, pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the evacuation slides and slide raft systems of aircraft pre-mod HCM 70440B. This directive responds to a reported incident where an evacuation slide failed to deploy correctly due to an incorrectly routed slide valve release cable, highlighting a critical safety issue that needed addressing to prevent potential harm during emergency evacuations. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the airworthiness of affected aircraft by mandating compliance with specific actions as outlined in BAe SB 25-198, and referencing UK CAA AD 008-05-90. The directive requires compliance by 31 July 1990, underscoring the urgency and importance of addressing this safety concern to mitigate risks associated with evacuation slide failures. By enforcing these measures, CASA aims to uphold stringent safety standards, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew in the event of an emergency.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as detailed in PART 39 - 105 of the Commonwealth of Australia, pertain specifically to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, with a particular focus on Air Cruisers Evacuation Slide/Slide Raft AD/BAe 146/19. This legislation applies to all models of BAe 146 aeroplanes equipped with slide or slide raft systems that are pre-modification HCM 70440B, necessitating compliance with BAe Service Bulletin 25-198. This requirement ensures the safe deployment of evacuation slides, addressing issues such as incorrectly routed slide valve release cables which may result in slide deployment failures. The directive references UK Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Directive 008-05-90, aligning Australian regulations with international safety standards. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with a specific deadline of 31 July 1990 for all affected aircraft to be modified in accordance with the prescribed service bulletin. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it is enforced under the Australian Commonwealth's Civil Aviation Regulations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandate adherence to certain Airworthiness Directives (AD) for aircraft safety. Section 39-105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outlines the applicability of these directives to British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, with a particular focus on the airworthiness directive AD/BAe 146/19. This directive pertains to the evacuation slide/slide raft systems of all models equipped with such systems that are pre-modification HCM 70440B. The requirement, as per Section 39-105, mandates that actions must be taken in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin (SB) 25-198. It is also noted that UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) AD 008-05-90 provides additional context and references for compliance. The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 on the parties or entities governed by this legislation are primarily concerned with ensuring the safety and proper functioning of the evacuation slide/slide raft systems on BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes. Section 39-105 explicitly states that all applicable aircraft must comply with the requirements of BAe SB 25-198. This includes addressing any issues with the slide valve release cable, which has been identified as a potential cause for the slide not deploying correctly. Compliance with these directives is crucial to prevent accidents during emergency evacuations, ensuring that passengers and crew can safely exit the aircraft in the event of an emergency. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose significant consequences for any breaches of the stipulated requirements. Section 39-105 sets a compliance deadline of 31 July 1990, indicating that any non-compliance by this date could result in severe penalties. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided excerpt, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to these safety directives could result in both civil and criminal liabilities under Australian aviation law. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and potential criminal charges for negligence or endangerment, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance.