Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate and ensure safety within civil aviation. Among the various parts of these regulations, Part 39 - 105 specifically addresses the issuance of airworthiness directives, which are critical in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. One such directive pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/BAe 146/9 Amendment 1. This directive was introduced to address the identified problem of the insecurity of the steering cuff ring nut, which has previously resulted in the unscrewing of the ring nut, leading to a loss of nose wheel steering. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by mandating specific actions and modifications to rectify this issue. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, requires all models of the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series to comply with the directive. The directive mandates actions in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin SB 32-A95 and modifications in line with Service Bulletin SB 32-95-70409A. Compliance must be achieved as detailed in the Requirement Document, with an implementation deadline prior to 30 June 1989. This directive aims to eliminate the safety risk posed by the previously unsecured steering cuff ring nut, ensuring that the aircraft maintain their airworthiness and operational safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are applicable to the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument applies to all models of BAe 146 aircraft and mandates compliance with specific requirements aimed at ensuring the airworthiness and safety of these aeroplanes. The directive addresses the issue of the steering ring cuff nut's insecurity, which has led to incidents of the ring nut unscrewing and the steering cuff dropping, thereby causing a loss of nose wheel steering. The directive requires actions to be taken in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin (BAe SB) 32-A95 and subsequent modifications as per BAe SB 32-95-70409A. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and must be completed prior to 30 June 1989, as referenced by the UK Civil Aviation Authority AD 014-08-88. This legislation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and ensures that the specified modifications are implemented to maintain the safety standards of BAe 146 aeroplanes.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically address the safety directives for the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes through AD/BAe 146/9 Amendment 1. The primary operative sections of this directive (sections 1 and 2) require aircraft operators to undertake specific actions to ensure the airworthiness of the BAe 146 aeroplanes. Specifically, section 1 mandates that operators must follow the instructions in BAe Service Bulletin (SB) 32-A95, while section 2 requires modifications as outlined in BAe SB 32-95-70409A. These actions are necessary to address the security issue of the steering cuff ring nut, which, if left unaddressed, could lead to a loss of nose wheel steering. The obligations imposed by this directive include adherence to the procedures and timelines set forth in the Requirement Document. Operators are required to ensure compliance with these procedures prior to a specified deadline of 30 June 1989, as stipulated in section 1 of the directive. This compliance is critical to maintain the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Failure to comply with these requirements could result in significant safety risks, as the insecure steering cuff ring nut has previously led to incidents where the steering cuff dropped, causing a loss of nose wheel steering. Regarding the consequences of non-compliance, although the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for failing to adhere to the AD/BAe 146/9 Amendment 1, any non-compliance with CASA directives can potentially lead to serious civil or criminal repercussions. Non-compliance could result in penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, including fines and potential imprisonment. Furthermore, operators may face operational restrictions or even grounding of their aircraft until the required actions are satisfactorily completed. These potential consequences underscore the importance of strict adherence to the safety directives provided in the legislation.