AD/CL-600/28 - Sunstrand Air Driven Generator

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, were introduced to establish comprehensive safety standards in civil aviation. This legislation is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aims to ensure that all civil aviation activities within Australia are conducted safely and securely. Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically addresses Airworthiness Directives, which are regulatory requirements issued to correct safety deficiencies in aircraft. The policy objective is to maintain the highest standards of airworthiness to protect public safety and ensure the reliability of civil aviation operations. This particular legislative instrument focuses on Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, requiring specific checks and modifications to the Sundstrand Air Driven Generator uplock assemblies to mitigate risks associated with manual release system failures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which ensures that civil aircraft are maintained in a safe airworthy condition. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/CL-600/28) applies to Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers and equipped with the Sundstrand Air Driven Generator (ADG) uplock assemblies. The serial numbers covered are CL-600-1A11 from 1004 to 1085, CL-600-2A12 from 3001 to 3066, and CL-600-2B16 from 5001 to 5150. The AD mandates certain actions to be undertaken by the aircraft operators to address issues identified with the ADG uplock assemblies. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, applying across Australia under the Commonwealth jurisdiction. The AD provides specific requirements for checking and, if necessary, replacing the ADG uplock assemblies and performing subsequent rigging checks, with compliance timelines clearly defined. No exclusions or exemptions are specified in this directive, meaning all applicable aircraft must adhere to the prescribed actions. The AD extends its application through subordinate instruments, as referenced by Transport Canada Aviation AD CF-94-13 dated 1 September 1994, which aligns with the Australian directive.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes Airworthiness Directive AD/CL-600/28 concerning Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes. The directive applies to certain Canadair Challenger aircraft equipped with a Sundstrand Air Driven Generator (ADG) uplock assembly. The directive is applicable to CL-600-1A11 aircraft with serial numbers 1004 to 1085, CL-600-2A12 aircraft with serial numbers 3001 to 3066, and CL-600-2B16 aircraft with serial numbers 5001 to 5150. The primary requirements outlined in the directive are as follows: operators must check the integrity of the ADG uplock internal pin, install a modified ADG uplock assembly, and perform a rigging check. These tasks must be completed in accordance with the specified service bulletins and accomplishment instructions, which were issued on 25 April 1994. A modified ADG uplock assembly installation within 150 flight hours from 10 November 1994 exempts the aircraft from the requirement to check the integrity of the ADG uplock internal pin. Compliance with the directive must be achieved within 150 flight hours from 10 November 1994, and all actions must be completed before 10 November 1995. The rigging check must be performed immediately following the completion of the specified actions. The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are to ensure the safety of the aircraft by preventing the occurrence of incidents where the ADG does not deploy upon operation of the manual release system, as has occurred in six reported incidents. The ADG uplock assembly must be inspected and, if necessary, replaced to correct any issues with the uplock mechanism. The directive requires operators to adhere to specific service bulletins and accomplishment instructions to complete the required tasks. Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive may result in safety risks and could lead to severe consequences, including potential accidents. However, the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text of the directive itself. It is likely that failure to adhere to airworthiness directives could result in penalties under other relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which may include fines or other sanctions. Operators are expected to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft.