Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to provide comprehensive safety regulations for civil aviation in Australia, ensuring that aircraft meet stringent safety standards to protect passengers and crew. One of the specific instruments within these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive AD/CL-600/2, which was introduced to address the potential weakness in the elevator inboard hinge fittings of Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to mandate inspections and necessary replacements to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft models. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk associated with the suspected weakness in the specified hinge fittings, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning Airworthiness Directives for the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, mandates a rigorous inspection and replacement protocol for elevator inboard hinge fittings. This legislation applies to all aircraft models with serial numbers 1005 to 1008 and 1010 and subsequent, requiring an initial inspection within 300 hours of time in service after 31 March 1983, as documented in Canadair Challenger TM Alert No. T-A600-0018-002. Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 150 hours until the fitting is replaced, and any identified cracks must prompt immediate replacement prior to further flight. The directive aims to ensure the safety of the aircraft by addressing a suspected weakness in the P/No. 600-23045-1 and -2 steel components, introducing replacements to mitigate risks. The regulation applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing strict compliance to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which include detailed requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft. In this instance, the regulation pertains to the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series aeroplanes, and more specifically, to the elevator inboard hinge fittings (AD/CL-600/2). The affected aircraft are those with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 1005 to 1008 and 1010 onwards. The directive is documented as Canadair Challenger TM Alert No. T-A600-0018-002. The primary requirements under this directive are focused on the inspection and replacement of the elevator inboard hinge fittings. According to the regulation, an initial inspection must be conducted within 300 hours of time in service after 31 March 1983 (section 3/83). Following this initial inspection, subsequent inspections must be carried out at intervals not exceeding 150 hours of time in service until the fitting is replaced (section 1). If any cracks are detected in the fitting during inspection, it must be replaced before any further flight can take place (section 2). This requirement underscores the critical nature of maintaining the integrity of the elevator inboard hinge fittings to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft. Operators and owners of the affected Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series aeroplanes must adhere to the inspection and replacement schedule outlined in the regulation. This involves ensuring that the elevator inboard hinge fittings are inspected at the specified intervals and replaced if any defects are found. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential enforcement actions by CASA. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose strict obligations on the parties responsible for maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. Non-compliance with the airworthiness directives can lead to significant civil and criminal penalties. For instance, CASA can issue enforcement notices, impose fines, and take legal action against operators who fail to adhere to the requirements. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of ensuring that the specified inspections and replacements are carried out to prevent any potential safety risks associated with the elevator inboard hinge fittings.