COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes
AD/DHC-8/14 Oxygen Line Chafing 6/91 TX
Applicability: All models DHC-8 100 and 300 series aircraft Serial No’s 003 through 271.
Requirement: 1. Inspect and repair in accordance with Boeing Canada de Havilland Division Alert SB A8-35-5 Rev “A”.
2. Tape and wrap in accordance with Boeing Canada de Havilland Division Alert SB A8-35-5 Rev “A”.
Note: Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-91-97 also refers.
Compliance: 1. Prior to 25 April 1991.
2. Within 500 hours time in service after 13 June 1991.
Background: There has been an occurrence of an electrical cable chafing an oxygen line beneath the crew compartment floor and rupturing the line. Action in accordance with this AD is necessary to prevent a severe oxygen-fed fire due to possible arcing between electrical feeder cable and crew oxygen line.
Note: Boeing Canada advises that all operators have been notified.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), as amended by F2006B09169, address specific safety concerns related to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes, particularly those in the 100 and 300 series with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 271. This legislation was introduced to rectify an identified problem where electrical cables were found to chafing oxygen lines beneath the crew compartment floor, leading to potential line ruptures and the risk of oxygen-fed fires due to arcing. The objective of this safety directive is to mandate inspections and repairs in accordance with Boeing Canada de Havilland Division Alert SB A8-35-5 Rev “A”, ensuring that any identified chafing is appropriately addressed to mitigate the risk of fire. Compliance with this directive is required prior to 25 April 1991 and within 500 hours of time in service after 13 June 1991. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by preventing incidents that could arise from such mechanical failures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all models of the DHC-8 100 and 300 series aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 271. The directive mandates that these aircraft must be inspected and repaired in accordance with Boeing Canada de Havilland Division Alert SB A8-35-5 Rev “A”, and further requires that the relevant areas be taped and wrapped as specified in the same alert. This action is necessitated by the occurrence of an electrical cable chafing an oxygen line beneath the crew compartment floor, which has resulted in the rupturing of the line and poses a risk of a severe oxygen-fed fire due to potential arcing between the electrical feeder cable and the crew oxygen line. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved either before 25 April 1991 or within 500 hours of time in service after 13 June 1991. Boeing Canada has also issued a Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-91-97 which refers to this directive, and all operators have been duly notified of the necessity to comply with these safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, mandates specific safety directives for the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/DHC-8/14. This directive addresses the issue of oxygen line chafing and the potential risk of fire caused by this defect. The directive applies to all DHC-8 100 and 300 series aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 271 (Section 6/91). To comply with this directive, operators are required to inspect and repair the oxygen lines in accordance with Boeing Canada de Havilland Division Alert SB A8-35-5 Rev “A” (Section 1). Additionally, the oxygen lines must be taped and wrapped as specified in the same alert (Section 2). The Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-91-97 is also referenced as relevant to this issue.
Operators of the affected aircraft must adhere to the compliance schedule outlined in the directive. They must complete the inspection and repairs before 25 April 1991 and ensure that further inspections are carried out within 500 hours of time in service after 13 June 1991 (Section 6/91). These requirements are critical to maintaining the safety standards of the aircraft by preventing electrical cables from chafing and rupturing the oxygen lines, which could lead to severe fire hazards.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline various offences, penalties, and potential civil or criminal consequences for non-compliance. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, general regulations under Australian aviation law can impose significant fines and penalties for breaches of safety directives. Non-compliance could also result in the grounding of the aircraft, leading to operational disruptions and potential legal action against the operators.
In summary, the AD/DHC-8/14 directive is a crucial safety measure for operators of Bombardier DHC-8 100 and 300 series aircraft. It mandates specific inspection and repair actions to prevent oxygen line chafing and the associated fire risks. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and failure to adhere to them can lead to severe penalties and operational consequences.