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
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DHC-8/73 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/DHC-8/73
Amdt 1
Airstair Door 4/2001
Applicability: Model DHC-8 series 100, 200, and 300 aircraft, serial numbers 003 through 550.
Requirement: Modify the airstair door in accordance with the requirements of Transport Canada AD CF-2000-19R1.
Compliance: Before 19 October 2001, unless already accomplished. This amendment becomes effective on 19 April 2001.
Background: Transport Canada received a significant number of reports which detail various problems of the airstair door failing to open following flight. Several modifications have been developed to address these problems and their incorporation will improve the reliability of the airstair door, and ensure that problems with the door do not impede aircraft egress during emergency conditions.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new Transport Canada AD which addresses a change in affected aircraft serial numbers, indicates approval of later revisions of two service bulletins, and adds an alternate method of addressing the bending of the gas springs. As well, the compliance schedule has been extended.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 2 November 2000.
David Alan Villiers.
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 March 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 March 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation in Australia. This legislation aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations within the country, including the establishment of airworthiness standards for aircraft. Among its provisions, Part 39 outlines specific regulations pertaining to airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/DHC-8/73 Amendment 1, was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in response to reports of airstair door malfunctions on Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series aeroplanes. The directive mandates modifications to the airstair door to improve reliability and ensure safe emergency egress, aligning with Transport Canada's amended directive and extending the compliance timeline to address the identified safety concerns effectively. This directive underscores CASA's commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of Part 39, specifically targets the Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, applying to models DHC-8 series 100, 200, and 300 with serial numbers ranging from 003 through 550. This directive, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, mandates the modification of the airstair door in accordance with Transport Canada AD CF-2000-19R1 to address issues with door functionality post-flight, which could compromise safety during emergency egress. The directive's compliance must be achieved before 19 October 2001, unless modifications have already been completed. This Airworthiness Directive extends across the Commonwealth, ensuring that all relevant aircraft operators within Australia adhere to the specified safety standards, thereby maintaining a consistent level of aviation safety nationwide.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DHC-8/73Amdt 1, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), pertains specifically to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 series 100, 200, and 300 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 550. The directive mandates modifications to the airstair door in compliance with the requirements outlined in Transport Canada AD CF-2000-19R1. This requirement is designed to address recurring issues where the airstair door failed to open after flights, which could pose a significant safety risk, especially during emergency egress scenarios.
This Airworthiness Directive imposes several obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. Primarily, they must ensure that the airstair door modifications are carried out according to the specifications provided in Transport Canada AD CF-2000-19R1. This includes any necessary approvals of later revisions of service bulletins and the incorporation of an alternate method to address bending of the gas springs. The directive further specifies that these modifications must be completed before 19 October 2001, unless the modifications have already been accomplished prior to this date.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant legal and safety consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is empowered to take enforcement actions against non-compliance, which can include fines, penalties, and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are satisfactorily completed. The exact penalties and enforcement actions are not explicitly stated in the text, but they are likely to be severe given the safety-critical nature of the modifications mandated by the directive. The directive aims to ensure that the safety of passengers and crew is not compromised due to the identified issues with the airstair door.