Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, serve as the primary legislation governing civil aviation safety, with specific provisions addressing airworthiness. One such legislative instrument, F2006B08608, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, aims to address the problem of cracked windshields in Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes. The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) identifies the need to mitigate the risk of windshield failure, particularly in aircraft with low flight cycles, by mandating specific actions to enhance safety. This directive was introduced to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of affected aircraft by reducing stress concentrations at the windshield's lower forward corner through the installation of modified fasteners. The policy objective is to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety by proactively addressing potential hazards.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies to Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 series aircraft, specifically model CL-600-2B19, with serial numbers 7003 and higher. The directive pertains to aircraft equipped with specific windshield part numbers and those that have accumulated fewer than 2,500 flight cycles. The directive mandates the inspection and modification of the main windshield fasteners to mitigate the risk of windshield failure, which has been identified as a safety concern. The directive requires adherence to the instructions outlined in Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-56-004, dated 16 August 2001, and mandates the compliance action to be completed by 31 October 2002. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 December 2001 and is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 December 2001, extending its application across the national jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, detail the Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, AD/CL-600/46 concerns the Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series aeroplanes. This directive, issued on 14 November 2001, mandates specific actions to address the issue of cracked windshields in certain CL-600-2B19 aircraft models. It applies to aircraft serial numbers 7003 and above, equipped with specified windshield part numbers and having less than 2,500 flight cycles. The directive requires the inspection and potential modification of the main windshield fasteners to mitigate the risk of windshield failure. This AD imposes several obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. Firstly, they must inspect the aft edge of the left and right main windshields to determine if a specific placard (part number CSB-NP-139321-002-1) is installed. If the placard is present, no further action is required. However, if it is not present, the operator must modify the windshield by replacing nine of the existing hi-lok pins in the lower forward corner with pins of reduced shank diameter, as detailed in Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-56-004. It is recommended that this modification be performed on windshields with the lowest number of flight cycles first. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this AD can lead to serious consequences. The directive specifies that the required actions must be completed before 31 October 2002, unless already performed. Non-compliance with this AD could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding of the aircraft and legal repercussions for the operator. The AD became effective on 27 December 2001, and its importance lies in its aim to enhance the safety of aircraft operations by preventing windshield failures that could compromise flight safety.