Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia and to address any safety gaps identified within the aviation industry. One such gap addressed by a specific legislative instrument is the safety concern regarding Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, particularly the potential for electrical arcing due to chafing of Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) cables. This issue was identified by Transport Canada and could potentially lead to in-flight fires or loss of electrical power. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), as the delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia, issued Airworthiness Directive AD/CL-600/40 to mandate corrective actions to mitigate this risk. The directive requires specific inspections, repairs, or replacements of the IDG cables and installation of protective conduits, aiming to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft and maintain high safety standards in Australia's civil aviation sector.

Scope and Application

This Civil Aviation Regulation pertains to the maintenance and airworthiness of Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) series aeroplanes, specifically model CL-600-2B19 “Regional Jet” aeroplanes with serial numbers 7003 through 7462 inclusive. The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aims to address an unsafe condition identified in the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) cable harnesses of these aircraft. The directive mandates a series of actions to mitigate the risk of electrical arcing due to cable chafing, which could potentially cause in-flight fires or loss of electrical power. The requirement includes a visual inspection of the IDG cable harnesses, repair or replacement of damaged cables, installation of protective conduits, and reporting of findings to Bombardier. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved within specific timeframes: the initial inspection must occur within 50 hours of the directive's effective date, cable repairs or replacements must be completed before further flight, installation of protective conduits must be completed within 550 hours, and any findings must be reported to Bombardier within 30 days of the inspection. This Airworthiness Directive applies nationally within Australia and is effective from 25 January 2001.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in the Commonwealth of Australia, contains the Airworthiness Directive for Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes. Specifically, the directive pertains to the CL-600-2B19 “Regional Jet” aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 7003 through 7462. The directive outlines necessary actions to address the risk of electrical arcing due to chafing of the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) cables, which could lead to in-flight fires or loss of electrical power. The directive mandates several actions for compliance. Firstly, operators must visually inspect the IDG cable harness assembly of both the left and right engines as per Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) A601R-24-103. This inspection must be completed within 50 hours of the directive's effective date. Secondly, if any chafing or damage is detected during this inspection, operators must either repair or replace the damaged cable, depending on the severity. Thirdly, a protective conduit must be installed on the IDG cable harness assembly, with specific part numbers assigned for each engine. Lastly, any findings of IDG cable chafing or damage must be reported to Bombardier within 30 days of the inspection. Operators governed by this directive are required to adhere to strict timelines and procedures to ensure compliance. For the inspection, operators must complete the task within 50 hours of the directive's effective date. If damage is detected, repairs or replacements must be made before any further flight. The installation of the protective conduit must be completed within 550 hours of the directive's effective date, and reporting requirements must be fulfilled within 30 days of the initial inspection. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in serious safety risks. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive can result in severe consequences. While the directive does not specify explicit civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. Furthermore, the potential for in-flight fires or loss of electrical power underscores the critical nature of adhering to these safety requirements, highlighting the importance of prompt and thorough compliance.