COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/BAe 146/92 Centre and Rear Fuselage Skin 10/2001
Applicability: All BAe 146 100, 200, and 300 Series aircraft.
All Avro 146-RJ70, RJ85, and RJ100 Series aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 53-164.
Note 1: UK CAA AD 002-07-2001 refers.
Note 2: It is important to contact BAE Systems if cracks are found, as the SB requires, for two reasons. First, the company needs the information for its ongoing investigation of this problem. Second, the company is already considering revising the inspection procedure and will design the repairs with this in mind.
Compliance: For BAe 146 aircraft:
- Initially within 4,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 16,000 total landings, whichever occurs later.
b. Repeat at intervals not to exceed 8,000 landings. For Avro 146-RJ aircraft:
- Initially within 2,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 10,000 total landings, whichever occurs later.
b. Repeat at intervals not to exceed 4,000 landings.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 4 October 2001.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: Evidence of cracking has been reported along the edges of chemi-etched pockets in the rear fuselage upper skin adjacent to the lap joint at str.2, between frames 35/34 and adjacent to the lap joint at str.10 between frames 38/37.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 August 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 September 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) are a comprehensive set of rules enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate civil aviation within the country. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety standards and regulations in the civil aviation sector to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the general public. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), as a delegate of the Parliament, issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998 to mandate specific actions to correct identified unsafe conditions in aircraft. For example, AD/BAe 146/92, which became effective on 4 October 2001, addresses the issue of reported cracking in the fuselage skin of British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes and Avro 146-RJ Series aircraft. The directive requires inspections in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 53-164 and specifies compliance timelines based on the number of landings since 4 October 2001. The policy objective is to ensure that any identified safety issues are promptly and effectively addressed to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 146 Series aeroplanes, including all BAe 146 100, 200, and 300 Series aircraft, as well as all Avro 146-RJ70, RJ85, and RJ100 Series aircraft. This directive is a regulatory measure intended to address an identified safety concern related to potential cracking in the centre and rear fuselage skin of these aircraft. The AD mandates that inspections be conducted in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 53-164, with specific reference to UK CAA AD 002-07-2001. Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the inspections are performed at specified intervals: initially within 4,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 16,000 total landings for BAe 146 aircraft, and initially within 2,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 10,000 total landings for Avro 146-RJ aircraft, with subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 8,000 and 4,000 landings respectively. The directive became effective on 4 October 2001 and was officially notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 September 2001.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section (AD/BAe 146/92) specifies which aircraft are subject to this directive: all BAe 146 100, 200, and 300 Series aircraft and all Avro 146-RJ70, RJ85, and RJ100 Series aircraft. The requirement section mandates that these aircraft undergo inspection in accordance with BAE Systems Mandatory Service Bulletin ISB. 53-164. This inspection is necessary to identify any cracks in the fuselage skin. The compliance section sets the timelines for these inspections: for BAe 146 aircraft, the initial inspection must occur within 4,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 16,000 total landings, whichever is later, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding 8,000 landings. For Avro 146-RJ aircraft, the initial inspection must be conducted within 2,000 landings after 4 October 2001 or at 10,000 total landings, whichever is later, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding 4,000 landings.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Operators of BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ aircraft must ensure that inspections are conducted in accordance with the specified bulletin and timelines. This involves adhering to detailed procedures outlined by BAE Systems to identify potential cracks in the specified areas of the fuselage. Operators must also report any findings of cracks to BAE Systems, as this information is critical for ongoing investigations and potential revisions to inspection procedures and repair designs. The AD underscores the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft by addressing potential structural issues proactively.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. Non-compliance could result in the grounding of affected aircraft, as the directive is issued to correct an unsafe condition. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance through various means, including audits, inspections, and potential legal action. In the event of a serious breach, operators could face substantial penalties. While specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, general provisions within the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may apply, including fines and other sanctions that could be substantial, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance.