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-8/37
Amdt 1
Fuselage Skin and Frames at Floor Level 7/95
Applicability: DHC-8 aircraft Models 102 and 103, Serial Numbers 101 to 180 inclusive, with de Havilland Modification 8/0427 incorporated which have exceeded 15543 landings at 25 May 1995 and which have not been inspected in accordance with the Maintenance Program Manual PSM 1-8-7 Task 5310/30C (Section 3-53, Page 12 dated 10 August
1993).
Requirement: 1. Thoroughly clean the external fuselage skin from fuselage station X253.00 to X653.349 from stringer 20 to stringer 24. Perform a detailed visual inspection of the area for cracking in accordance with de Havilland Service Bulletin 8-53-48.
2. Internally inspect the fuselage frames and skin in accordance with PSM 1-8-7, Structural Inspection Program Task 5310/30C (Section 3-53 page 12 dated 12 August 1993).
Accomplishment of the internal inspection terminates the Requirements of this Directive.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-94-17 refers.
Compliance: 1. Initially inspect in accordance with Requirement 1 within 200 flights after 27 April 1995. Repeat the inspections at intervals not to exceed 769 flights.
2. Inspect in accordance with Requirement 2 before 31086 flights or before further flight if cracks are found as a result of Requirement 1 inspection.
Note: Aircraft which have been inspected internally in accordance with PSM 1-8-7 Task 5310/30C revert to the on-going inspection requirements of the PSM.
Amendment 1 makes no change to the technical requirements of this Directive.
Background: In an early issue of the manufacturer’s Maintenance Program Airworthiness Limitations List, one if the tasks included a misleading remark about the task effectively. Consequently, on post Modification 8/0427 aircraft the fuselage frames may not have been inspected at the intervals intended. This out-of-sequence inspection will bring the affected aircraft into compliance with the current airworthiness limitations. Amendment 1 corrects a typographical error in the Applicability and adds the current note to the Compliance paragraph.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules governing civil aviation safety within Australia. This legislation aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations across the country. One specific amendment to these regulations is AD/DHC-8/37 Amendment 1, which addresses an issue identified with the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes. This amendment was introduced to rectify a problem where a misleading remark in the manufacturer’s Maintenance Program Airworthiness Limitations List led to potential non-compliance with required inspection intervals for certain aircraft models. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued this directive to ensure that all affected aircraft are inspected according to the correct intervals, thereby maintaining the required safety standards and addressing the identified gap in compliance.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the safety directives concerning Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 series aeroplanes, focusing on particular models and serial numbers. This regulation applies to DHC-8 aircraft Models 102 and 103 with serial numbers ranging from 101 to 180, which have incorporated de Havilland Modification 8/0427, have surpassed 15543 landings by 25 May 1995, and have not been inspected according to the Maintenance Program Manual PSM 1-8-7 Task 5310/30C. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, as they are a part of the Commonwealth of Australia's legislative framework. The directive mandates a thorough cleaning and detailed visual inspection of the external fuselage skin and an internal inspection of the fuselage frames and skin. Compliance requires initial inspections within 200 flights after 27 April 1995, followed by inspections at intervals not exceeding 769 flights. The regulation also references Transport Canada AD CF-94-17 and notes that aircraft inspected internally revert to ongoing inspection requirements of the PSM. This legislative instrument may extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness directives for Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 series aeroplanes through Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. AD/DHC-8/37 Amendment 1 focuses on the fuselage skin and frames at floor level for DHC-8 aircraft models 102 and 103, serial numbers 101 to 180 inclusive, with specific modifications and landing requirements. This directive mandates a thorough cleaning and detailed visual inspection of the external fuselage skin to detect any cracking, followed by an internal inspection of the fuselage frames and skin. These inspections must be carried out according to specific service bulletins and maintenance program tasks outlined in the directive.
The key provisions in section 3-53 of the directive require that the external fuselage skin be cleaned and visually inspected for cracks from fuselage station X253.00 to X653.349, between stringers 20 to 24. Additionally, an internal inspection of the fuselage frames and skin must be performed in accordance with the PSM 1-8-7 Structural Inspection Program Task 5310/30C. The internal inspection concludes the requirements of this directive. Aircraft that have undergone this internal inspection revert to the ongoing inspection requirements as per the PSM.
The obligations imposed by the AD/DHC-8/37 Amendment 1 require operators of applicable DHC-8 aircraft to ensure that the initial inspection is conducted within 200 flights after 27 April 1995. Subsequent inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 769 flights. If cracks are found during the initial inspection, further inspections must be conducted before the next flight. These inspections are crucial to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and must be meticulously followed to prevent any safety issues.
Failure to comply with the AD/DHC-8/37 Amendment 1 can result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify particular penalties in this context, but non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or other regulatory penalties. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and severity of the non-compliance, but they could have significant implications for the operator’s safety record and legal standing.