Overview

The Airworthiness Directive AD/CL-600/53, issued in 2002, addresses the issue of fuel migration in Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, specifically the CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 5301 to 5489. This Airworthiness Directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), an agency responsible for the safety oversight of aviation in Australia, to ensure that the aircraft operate within safe limits. The directive was introduced to correct an unsafe condition where fuel migration under conditions of acceleration and/or climb could potentially cause the aircraft to exceed the aft centre of gravity limit, thereby compromising flight safety. The policy objective behind this AD is to mandate modifications to the Aircraft Flight Manual to accurately reflect the aft centre of gravity limits under specified weight conditions, thereby mitigating the identified risk.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies specifically to Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series Aeroplanes, more precisely to the CL-600-2B16 (CL-64) aircraft, with serial numbers ranging from 5301 to 5489. This AD mandates the amendment of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for these specific aircraft models to ensure compliance with updated centre of gravity limits to address issues related to fuel migration. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia. It necessitates that all modifications to the AFM be completed within two calendar days following the directive's effective date of 15 May 2002, unless already accomplished. The directive is in response to concerns that the aircraft might exceed the aft centre of gravity limit under certain conditions, such as acceleration and/or climb, potentially leading to unsafe flight conditions.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD), issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targets Bombardier (Canadair) CL-600 (Challenger) Series aeroplanes, namely the CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) aircraft with serial numbers 5301 through 5489. The AD mandates amendments to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to address the risk of fuel migration under certain conditions leading to potential over-excursion of the aft centre of gravity limit. The AD requires the aft centre of gravity (C of G) limit to be changed to 34.5% for weights above the maximum landing weight of 38,000lb/17,237kg in specific figures of the AFM. This action must be completed within two calendar days after 15 May 2002. The AD becomes effective on 15 May 2002, and its requirements are terminated by the insertion of Temporary Revision TR 604/13 into the AFM. The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft. Operators must ensure that all copies of the CL-604 AFM, PSP 604 1, are amended as per the directive's requirements. This involves modifying Figure 02-03-01 and Figure 02-03-02 of the AFM to reflect the updated aft C of G limits. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aircraft being operated outside of its approved limits, which could potentially compromise safety. Operators must also ensure that any changes are made in accordance with the instructions provided within the AD and are completed within the specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this AD may result in significant consequences. While the AD itself does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally falls under the broader regulatory framework provided by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Operators who fail to adhere to these directives risk facing enforcement actions, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance results in an accident or incident. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the discretion of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in enforcing the regulations.