AD/BAe 146/97 - Nose Landing Gear - Differential Box Collar Cap Screw Torque Reinstatement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety and efficiency in the operation of aircraft and aeronautical products. Part 39 of these regulations includes provisions for Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address safety issues that may affect the airworthiness of aircraft. AD/BAe 146/97, issued on 20 February 2002, specifically targets the British Aerospace BAe 146 series aeroplanes, including the Avro 146 series. This directive was introduced in response to reports of uncommanded inputs to the nose wheel steering, which were traced back to significantly low torque settings of the nose landing gear differential box collar cap screw. The policy objective of this AD is to correct the unsafe condition by reinstating the correct torque settings to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), apply to the maintenance and operation of aircraft within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the regulations includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) aimed at ensuring the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. This particular AD applies to all BAe 146-100, -200 and -300 series aeroplanes, as well as all Avro 146-RJ70, -RJ85 and -RJ100 series aeroplanes. The AD mandates that these aircraft must undergo specific inspections and maintenance actions related to the nose landing gear differential box to prevent uncommanded inputs to the nose wheel steering, which could lead to safety issues. The directive requires compliance with the instructions outlined, which include inspecting and reinstating the correct torque settings as specified in relevant service bulletins, and mandates that non-compliant differential boxes should not be fitted to an aeroplane. The AD came into effect on 27 February 2002, with the compliance deadline for inspections set for 30 March 2002. This directive extends the application of the regulations to ensure adherence to safety standards through specified actions and inspections, reinforcing the overarching goal of maintaining air safety in Australia.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39 - 105, specifically AD/BAe 146/97, mandates certain actions for the maintenance and inspection of British Aerospace BAe 146 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all BAe 146-100, -200, and -300 series aeroplanes, as well as all Avro 146-RJ70, -RJ85, and -RJ100 series aeroplanes (Applicability). The key requirement is to inspect the nose landing gear differential box in accordance with BAe Systems (Operations) Service Bulletin ISB.32-168, ensuring that the torque settings are reinstated as specified in Messier Dowty Service Bulletin 146-32-154 (Requirement 1). Furthermore, the directive prohibits the fitting of a nose landing gear differential box that does not meet these torque specifications (Requirement 2). This directive becomes effective on 27 February 2002, with the compliance deadline for the inspection and reinstatement of the torque settings set for 30 March 2002. The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and stringent. Operators and owners of the specified aircraft must ensure that all inspections and reinstatements of the torque settings are conducted as per the referenced service bulletins. This includes verifying that the torque settings of the nose landing gear differential box collar cap screw are set at the original design standard of 60 lb/in. Non-compliance with these requirements not only risks the safety of the aircraft but also potentially exposes operators to regulatory scrutiny and legal repercussions. The AD does not explicitly detail offences or penalties for non-compliance within the directive itself. However, failure to adhere to such Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can lead to significant consequences under broader aviation regulations. These may include enforcement actions such as fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. The severity of these penalties can vary based on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety incidents. Operators must therefore treat these directives with the utmost seriousness to ensure both compliance and the maintenance of high safety standards within the aviation industry.