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-8/44 Refuel/Defuel Tube Assembly 12/96
DM
Applicability: All DHC-8 model 102, 103, 106, 201 and 202 aircraft with serial number 203 through
450 and model 311, 314 and 315 with serial number 202 through 451 fitted with P/N refuel/defuel tube assemblies as specified in the Requirement Document.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the five applicable refuel/defuel tube assemblies in accordance with Section III, Part 1 of the Requirement Document.
Replace any leaking tube assemblies before further flight with fuel tubes modified per Requirements 2 or 3 (as applicable).
2. Modify refuel/defuel assembly P/N 82820107-007 or 82821015-003, as applicable, in accordance with de Havilland modification 8/2589 as detailed in Section III, Part 2 of the Requirement Document.
3. Modify all remaining refuel/defuel tube assemblies in accordance with de Havilland modification 8/2589 as detailed in Section III, Part 3 of the Requirement Document.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-96-14 dated 20 August 1996 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless previously accomplished, initially within 30 days from 2 October 1996, and thereafter reinspect at intervals not exceeding 6 months from the last inspection.
2. No later than 2 October 1997.
3. No later than 2 October 1998.
Compliance with Requirements 2 and 3 are terminating action for Requirement 1.
Background: The manufacturer advised that an operator has reported a fuel leakage from the refuel/defuel line shroud drain that is located near the refuel/defuel adapter in the R/H nacelle. Fuel leakage can collect beneath the exhaust fingernail on the heat shield structure and because of the heat generated in the area, is a potential fire hazard.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), address gaps in airworthiness and operational safety standards for civil aviation in Australia. This legislative instrument specifically targets the DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland), aiming to mitigate the risk of fuel leakage which can pose a significant fire hazard. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DHC-8/44 mandates inspections and modifications to refuel/defuel tube assemblies to ensure that any leaking components are replaced and that all assemblies are modified as specified. The directive underscores the importance of timely compliance, with initial inspections and modifications required within specific timeframes following the directive's issuance, and subsequent reinspections to maintain safety standards. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of air operations by addressing known vulnerabilities in aircraft refuel/defuel systems.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety directives for the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes under the Australian jurisdiction. This legislation applies to all DHC-8 model 102, 103, 106, 201, and 202 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 203 through 450, as well as model 311, 314, and 315 with serial numbers from 202 through 451, that are equipped with P/N refuel/defuel tube assemblies as specified in the directive. The safety measures outlined in this regulation are aimed at mitigating the risk of fuel leakage, which has been identified as a potential fire hazard due to its proximity to heat-generating structures in the aircraft's nacelle. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and includes inspecting and replacing leaking fuel tubes within 30 days from the directive date, with subsequent inspections not exceeding six months apart. Modifications to specific parts of the refuel/defuel assembly must be completed by specified deadlines, with these actions terminating the requirement for ongoing inspections.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, identified as AD/DHC-8/44. This directive is concerned with the refuel/defuel tube assemblies of certain DHC-8 models. According to section 12/96DM, the directive applies to all DHC-8 models 102, 103, 106, 201, 202, 311, 314, and 315 within specified serial number ranges, provided they are equipped with P/N refuel/defuel tube assemblies as outlined in the Requirement Document.
The key provisions of this directive include detailed inspection and modification procedures for the refuel/defuel tube assemblies. Section 1 of the Requirement Document mandates that the five applicable refuel/defuel tube assemblies must be inspected in accordance with Section III, Part 1. If any of these tubes are found leaking, they must be replaced before any further flights, with the new tubes modified as per Requirements 2 or 3, depending on the specific part number of the assembly. Section 2 directs that refuel/defuel assembly P/N 82820107-007 or 82821015-003 must be modified following de Havilland modification 8/2589, as detailed in Section III, Part 2 of the Requirement Document. Section 3 requires that all remaining refuel/defuel tube assemblies be modified in line with de Havilland modification 8/2589, as detailed in Section III, Part 3.
The directive imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties governed by it. Operators must ensure compliance by conducting an initial inspection within 30 days from 2 October 1996. Following this initial inspection, reinspections must occur at intervals not exceeding six months. Modifications detailed in Requirements 2 and 3 must be completed no later than 2 October 1997 and 2 October 1998, respectively. Compliance with these modification requirements also serves as a terminating action for the initial inspection requirement.
Breach of these provisions can result in significant consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within the text, non-compliance with CASA directives typically involves civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines and the potential grounding of non-compliant aircraft, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment, particularly if the non-compliance results in safety incidents or accidents. Operators are expected to adhere strictly to the directive to avoid these adverse outcomes.