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-8/60
Amdt 1
Weight and Balance 6/99
Applicability: All DHC-8 series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft.
Requirement: To preclude the operation of DHC-8 aircraft with CG locations that may be outside the approved CG range:
- When conducting weight and balance checks, adhere to the restriction in the de Havilland Weight and Balance Manual that prohibits the use of wing jacks.
2. Review the Weight and Balance Manual for each aircraft and determine the method used during the most recent weight and balance check; and,
- If platform scales or bottle jacks at the undercarriage jacking points were used, no further action is required; or,
b. If wing jacks were used, or it cannot be ascertained that bottle jacks or platform scales were used, perform a weight and balance procedure following the procedures detailed in the aircraft's Weight and Balance Manual.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-98-32R1 refers.
Compliance: 1. At each weight and balance check conducted after 17 June 1999.
2. For aircraft on the Australian register as of 17 June 1999, before 16 October 1999. Aircraft entering the Australian register on or after 17 June 1999 and before
17 June 2000 must comply prior to issue of an Australian certificate of airworthiness.
This Amendment becomes effective on 17 June 1999.
Background: Two operators of DHC-8 aircraft have reported incidents of unusual handling characteristics during ground operation. The cause of these incidents was traced to discrepancies between the actual centre of gravity (CG) of the aircraft and the CG recorded in the aircraft log books. All aircraft involved in the incidents had a weight and balance performed, using wing jacks, at some time after delivery from the aircraft manufacturer. A recent Bombardier investigation of weight and balance procedures for high wing aircraft concluded that the use of wing jacks can result in CG errors as large as 2 to 3% of the mean aerodynamic chord for DHC-8 aircraft.
Amendment 1 is raised to limit applicability to series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft in line with Transport Canada revisions.
The initial issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 December 1998.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, encompasses various safety directives to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australian airspace. One such directive, AD/DHC-8/60 Amendment 1, was enacted to address a critical safety concern related to the weight and balance of Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes, particularly those in the series 100, 200, and 300. This directive was introduced in response to incidents where discrepancies in the aircraft's centre of gravity (CG) were discovered, leading to unusual handling characteristics during ground operations. The directive mandates strict adherence to the weight and balance procedures outlined in the de Havilland Weight and Balance Manual, specifically prohibiting the use of wing jacks during these checks, a practice found to potentially cause significant CG errors. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Australian Parliament, implemented this directive to ensure the safety and reliability of DHC-8 aircraft within Australia's civil aviation framework.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, with Amendment 1 concerning weight and balance requirements. This applies to all DHC-8 series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft. The directive mandates that during weight and balance checks, the restriction in the de Havilland Weight and Balance Manual must be adhered to, prohibiting the use of wing jacks. Operators must review the Weight and Balance Manual for each aircraft and determine the method used during the most recent weight and balance check. If platform scales or bottle jacks at the undercarriage jacking points were used, no further action is required. However, if wing jacks were used or it cannot be ascertained that bottle jacks or platform scales were used, a weight and balance procedure must be performed following the procedures detailed in the aircraft's Weight and Balance Manual. Compliance with this directive is necessary at each weight and balance check conducted after 17 June 1999, and for aircraft on the Australian register as of 17 June 1999, before 16 October 1999. Aircraft entering the Australian register on or after 17 June 1999 and before 17 June 2000 must comply prior to the issue of an Australian certificate of airworthiness. This Amendment becomes effective on 17 June 1999.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, such as the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, as detailed in Amendment 1 concerning weight and balance (AD/DHC-8/60Amdt 1). This directive applies to all DHC-8 series 100, 200, and 300 aircraft. The main requirement is to ensure that these aircraft are not operated with a centre of gravity (CG) outside the approved range. To meet this requirement, operators must conduct weight and balance checks in accordance with the de Havilland Weight and Balance Manual, specifically by not using wing jacks during these checks (Section 2). Operators must review their aircraft’s Weight and Balance Manual to determine the method used in the most recent weight and balance check. If platform scales or bottle jacks at the undercarriage jacking points were used, no further action is needed. However, if wing jacks were used or if it is uncertain whether bottle jacks or platform scales were used, operators must perform a weight and balance procedure as detailed in the aircraft's manual.
Operators are obligated to comply with these requirements at each weight and balance check conducted after 17 June 1999. For aircraft already registered in Australia as of 17 June 1999, compliance must be achieved before 16 October 1999. Additionally, aircraft entering the Australian register between 17 June 1999 and 17 June 2000 must comply before being issued an Australian certificate of airworthiness. Failure to adhere to these provisions can lead to significant operational risks, as evidenced by incidents where discrepancies in the CG resulted in unusual handling characteristics during ground operations.
Non-compliance with these directives can result in severe consequences. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose penalties for breaches of these regulations. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, breaches of airworthiness directives can lead to fines and other regulatory actions. The seriousness of these consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the specified weight and balance procedures to ensure the safety and airworthiness of DHC-8 aircraft operating within Australia.