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-8/59 Bonded Skin Panel Integrity 13/98
Applicability: Model DHC-8 Series 100 and 300 aircraft, serial numbers 215 through 341. Requirement: 1. a. Correct the Aircraft Log Book by revising the individual aircraft Modification
Logs in accordance with the instructions detailed in Part A of Section III,
Accomplishment Instructions, of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-51-2 dated 9 July 1998 or 8-51-2 Revision A dated 19 September 1998.
b. Determine which panels on the affected aircraft require bonding integrity inspections in accordance with the procedures detailed in Part B of Section III, Accomplishment Instructions, of above mentioned service bulletin(s).
c. Revise the Approved Maintenance Plan by incorporating the Bonding Integrity Inspections identified as Task 5500/01 and Task 5700/01 in the Airworthiness Limitations List.
2. Conduct the initial ultrasonic bond inspection of the panels identified in paragraph 1(b) above, using the procedure specified below:
- For Series 100 aircraft - Bombardier document PSM 1-8-7A, Part 5, section 55- 00-01 and/or 57-30-01; and,
b. For Series 300 aircraft - Bombardier document PSM 1-83-7A, Part 5, section 55-00-01 and/or 57-30-01.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-98-31 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, before 3 January 1999.
2. At the next convenient maintenance opportunity, but before 30 September 1999. This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 3 December 1998.
Background: The manufacturer’s investigation of an operator’s query has revealed inconsistencies between the effectivity tables for the Bond Integrity Inspection (BII) in the non- destructive testing manuals and the modification status record in Aircraft Modification logs. As a result of these inconsistencies, some of the bonded skin panels on affected aircraft are not being inspected under the BII program even though they were manufactured with panels that require a bonding integrity inspection.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. This legislation, amended by the legislative instrument F2006B09215, specifically addresses a critical safety concern identified in the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, namely the integrity of bonded skin panels on certain models. The directive, AD/DHC-8/59, was introduced to rectify inconsistencies found in the aircraft modification logs and the non-destructive testing manuals, which had led to some bonded skin panels on the affected aircraft models (DHC-8 Series 100 and 300, serial numbers 215 through 341) not being inspected as required. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of the aircraft by ensuring that all necessary inspections are conducted, thus preventing potential structural failures. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with specific timelines set for the inspection and documentation updates.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series 100 and 300 aeroplanes, with serial numbers ranging from 215 to 341. The regulation mandates that these aircraft undergo specific modifications and inspections to ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. Operators of these aircraft must revise their Aircraft Log Books and Approved Maintenance Plans to reflect the changes outlined in Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-51-2 dated 9 July 1998 or its revision A dated 19 September 1998. They are also required to conduct ultrasonic bond inspections on certain panels using procedures specified in Bombardier documents PSM 1-8-7A and PSM 1-83-7A. The directive specifies that these changes must be completed before 3 January 1999 or at the next maintenance opportunity before 30 September 1999. This directive became effective on 3 December 1998, ensuring that all applicable aircraft are compliant with the latest safety requirements.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) related to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes, which is AD/DHC-8/59 concerning Bonded Skin Panel Integrity. This directive applies to Model DHC-8 Series 100 and 300 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 215 through 341. The directive mandates three primary actions to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft. Firstly, it requires the correction of the Aircraft Log Book by revising the individual aircraft Modification Logs in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-51-2 or its revision dated 9 July 1998 or 19 September 1998. Secondly, it necessitates determining which panels require bonding integrity inspections following the procedures detailed in the service bulletin. Lastly, the Approved Maintenance Plan must be revised to incorporate these Bonding Integrity Inspections into the Airworthiness Limitations List as tasks 5500/01 and 5700/01.
These requirements impose specific obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Operators and maintenance personnel must ensure the Aircraft Log Book is updated accurately and the Approved Maintenance Plan reflects the new inspection tasks. This includes conducting initial ultrasonic bond inspections of the specified panels for both Series 100 and 300 aircraft using procedures outlined in Bombardier documents PSM 1-8-7A and PSM 1-83-7A, respectively. These inspections must be completed in two stages: the first by 3 January 1999, if not already accomplished, and the second at the next convenient maintenance opportunity but before 30 September 1999.
Failure to comply with the AD/DHC-8/59 may result in civil and criminal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text provided, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can typically lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, operational restrictions, or more severe penalties if the non-compliance results in safety hazards. It is essential for operators and maintenance personnel to adhere to the directive to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.