AD/DHC-8/34 Amdt 1 - Black Thermal Insulation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, address the issue of corrosion on Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes due to the use of black film thermal insulation blankets. This was enacted to ensure the safety of aircraft by preventing corrosion which could compromise structural integrity. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, operating under the authority of the Australian Parliament, introduced this legislation to align with international standards and ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australia’s airspace. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance aviation safety through the implementation of rigorous airworthiness directives.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 and Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governs the maintenance and operational safety of certain aircraft within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/DHC-8/34Amdt 1) applies to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes with specific model and serial numbers as detailed in the Requirement Table. The directive mandates the removal and replacement of black film thermal insulation blankets with AN4C Aluminized (silver) film insulation blankets to mitigate corrosion risks associated with the presence of carbon in the black film. This directive is effective for the specified aircraft models and serial numbers and requires compliance by a certain date, or as indicated in the relevant service bulletins, whichever is later. The directive extends to ensure safety compliance but excludes aircraft that have already undergone certain modifications during manufacture, as noted in the directive's applicability section.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One of the directives under this part pertains to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, outlined in AD/DHC-8/34 Amendment 1, dated 4/95, concerning "Black Thermal Insulation" (section 1). This directive applies to DHC-8 aircraft models and serial numbers specified in the Requirement Table of the legislation. The main requirement is that all black film thermal insulation blankets must be removed from the aircraft fuselage and flight compartment, and replaced with AN4C Aluminized (silver) film insulation blankets (section 2). This change must be carried out in accordance with the Part III Accomplishment Instructions of the Bombardier Inc., de Havilland Dash 8 Service Bulletins detailed in the Requirement Table. Operators of the specified DHC-8 models and serial numbers are obligated to comply with this directive (section 3). The compliance date for this directive is set to be before 3 September 1994 or as indicated in Part 1.D of the service bulletins listed in the Requirement Table, whichever is later. It is important to note that the compliance of the previous issue of this directive remains unchanged, and this amendment is effective from 30 March 1995 (section 4). Failure to comply with this directive could result in safety issues, particularly corrosion, as operators have reported corrosion forming on areas of the aircraft where black film thermal insulation blankets are used. The directive notes that Transport Canada AD CF-94-08R1 refers to this issue, and clarifies that this directive is not applicable to aircraft that have had all three de Havilland Modifications 8/2004, 8/2006, and 8/2007 incorporated during manufacture (section 5). Any breach of these requirements may lead to serious safety concerns and potential legal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to civil penalties, including fines, and potential criminal charges for those responsible for the aircraft. The exact penalties can vary, but they may include significant financial penalties and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety.