AD/BAe 146/45 - Airbrake Feedback Spring

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, regulate various aspects of civil aviation safety within Australia. Part 39 of these Regulations, specifically addressing airworthiness directives, includes the AD/BAe 146/45 concerning British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced to address safety concerns associated with specific components of BAe 146 aircraft. The problem it aimed to resolve was the potential fracture of the Servo-Valve feedback spring due to faulty manufacture, which could compromise the aircraft's safety. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of BAe 146 aircraft by mandating compliance with service bulletins and directives, such as BAe 146 mandatory Service Bulletin 27-133, by a specified deadline to prevent any potential safety risks. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, through this legislative instrument, mandates that all BAe 146 series aircraft fitted with certain Servo-Valve assemblies must comply with the specified requirements by 30 June 1993. This directive references similar actions taken by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the French Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile, highlighting a coordinated international approach to aviation safety. The legislation aims to maintain high safety standards by ensuring that all affected aircraft are modified to prevent any risk of in-flight failure due to the identified manufacturing defect.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the application of airworthiness directives for certain aircraft, including British Aerospace BAe 146 series aeroplanes. This directive, AD/BAe 146/45, pertains to the airbrake feedback spring and applies to all BAe 146 series aircraft equipped with specific Servo-Valve assemblies and within a particular serial number range. The requirement necessitates compliance with BAe 146 mandatory Service Bulletin 27-133, referencing UK Civil Aviation Authority AD 018-01-92 and French DGAC 92-096-IMP(B). The directive stipulates that compliance must be achieved by 30 June 1993. This regulation underscores the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of specified aircraft to ensure safety and reliability in flight operations. This legislative instrument operates under the Commonwealth of Australia and extends its jurisdictional reach to all relevant aircraft within the specified parameters. The directive is designed to address a critical safety issue related to the airbrake feedback spring, which, if fractured due to faulty manufacture, could compromise the aircraft's operational safety. The directive applies nationally, ensuring that all relevant aircraft operators and maintenance providers within Australia adhere to the specified compliance measures. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of this directive, and compliance is mandatory for all affected aircraft. Subordinate instruments may further extend or refine the application of this directive as necessary to address any evolving safety concerns.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to British Aerospace BAe 146 series aeroplanes. Section AD/BAe 146/45 mandates actions regarding the airbrake feedback spring, which is critical for the operation of the servo-valve assemblies. This AD applies to all BAe 146 series aircraft equipped with specific Servo-Valve assemblies (P/N 3799H1 from Fairy Hydraulics) that incorporate Servo-Valve P/N 72189 from Abex within the specified serial number range as detailed in the Requirement Document (Section 1). The requirement is that the action must be taken in accordance with BAe 146 mandatory Service Bulletin 27-133. This directive references similar actions taken by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA AD 018-01-92) and the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC 92-096-IMP(B)). Compliance with this directive is mandatory, and it must be achieved by 30 June 1993. Failure to comply with the AD/BAe 146/45 may result in significant safety risks due to the potential for fractured feedback springs, which could lead to compromised airbrake functionality. This, in turn, could adversely affect the control and safety of the aircraft during flight. The directive underscores the importance of adhering to the specified service bulletin and ensuring that all relevant aircraft are inspected and repaired as necessary to meet the outlined requirements. The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties or entities it governs include a thorough inspection of the affected servo-valve assemblies and springs, followed by any necessary repairs or replacements as specified in the BAe 146 mandatory Service Bulletin 27-133. Aircraft operators and maintenance providers must ensure that all affected aircraft are identified, inspected, and brought into compliance with the directive by the specified deadline. Documentation of compliance must be maintained, demonstrating that the required actions have been completed and that the aircraft meet the necessary airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with this directive could result in severe consequences, including potential civil or criminal penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally carries significant risk, including the possibility of grounding the aircraft, which could lead to financial losses and reputational damage. Additionally, there could be enforcement actions taken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which might include fines or other administrative sanctions. The severity of the penalties reflects the critical importance of ensuring that all safety directives are rigorously followed to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.