Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to provide for the safety of civil aviation and to ensure a consistent approach to the regulation of civil aviation throughout Australia. One of the specific pieces of legislation within this regulatory framework is the Airworthiness Directive issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD/DHC-8/71 concerns the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes and was introduced to address safety concerns related to the internal baggage compartment door. Specifically, distorted door stops had been found, which prevented the internal baggage door from latching and/or caused the door to jam in the closed position, an issue critical for emergency access during flight. This Airworthiness Directive mandates the replacement of baggage door stops in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-25-306 to rectify the unsafe condition and was issued to ensure compliance before 15 March 2001.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 series aeroplanes, including models 311, 314, and 315, with the specified serial numbers. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address safety concerns identified in the internal baggage compartment door mechanism of the affected aircraft. The directive mandates that the baggage door stops must be replaced in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-25-306, incorporating ModSum 8Q100899, to rectify the issue of door distortion which could prevent proper latching and potentially cause jamming during flight. This is critical for ensuring access to the baggage compartment for fire-fighting purposes. The directive is effective as of 2 November 2000, with a compliance deadline of 15 March 2001, unless the required action has already been completed. This AD is applicable nationwide within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia, reinforcing the safety standards set by CASA for civil aviation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, David Alan Villiers, under subregulation 39.1 (1). This AD, numbered AD/DHC-8/71, pertains to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes, specifically Models 311, 314, and 315, with serial numbers 408, 438, 442, and so forth, up to 505. The directive mandates the replacement of the baggage door stops to address safety concerns identified in the background section. The requirement outlined in this AD is to replace the baggage door stops in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-25-306, which details the incorporation of ModSum 8Q100899. This action is necessary to correct the unsafe condition where distorted door stops have been found on the baggage bulkhead, potentially preventing the internal baggage door from latching or causing it to jam in the closed position. Such issues are critical, as access to the baggage compartment during flight is essential for firefighting purposes. The AD imposes clear obligations on the relevant parties, including aircraft operators and maintenance providers, to ensure that the specified action is taken on the affected aircraft models before 15 March 2001, unless it has already been completed. This compliance deadline is set to mitigate the identified safety risks promptly. The directive became effective on 2 November 2000, indicating that immediate attention to the issue was necessary. Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant consequences. The AD is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 October 2000, which serves as an official notification to relevant parties. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, such breaches typically result in enforcement actions by CASA, which could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory sanctions. The severity of the consequences reflects the critical nature of the safety issue addressed by the AD.