Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide a regulatory framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. This legislation, specifically Part 39, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives designed to address safety concerns in civil aviation. The Airworthiness Directive AD/DHC-8/77 concerning Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes was issued to address the problem of rudder pedal mechanism failures that could lead to loss of control. The directive mandates inspections and replacements of specific rudder pedal adjustment fittings to prevent potential in-flight defects such as binding or stiffness. The directive was issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aiming to mitigate the risk of unsafe conditions identified by Transport Canada, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, namely the Series 100, 200, and 300, with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 563. This directive is a crucial safety measure to address the identified unsafe condition related to the rudder pedal adjustment fittings. The requirement mandates that these aircraft undergo an inspection of the rudder pedal adjustment fittings, specifically part number 82710038-101, to check for any cracks. If cracks are found, the fitting must be replaced before the aircraft can be flown again. Additionally, during any maintenance check prompted by a reported defect in the rudder control system, the fitting must be inspected as per the directive's instructions. Compliance with this AD necessitates inspections at specific intervals: initially within 5,000 flight hours since new or 500 flight hours after the directive's effective date, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 1,000 flight hours. The AD came into effect on 19 April 2001 and was officially published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 March 2001.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, issues an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes (section 1). The AD mandates that the action detailed in the requirement section must be undertaken in relation to the specified aircraft, under the circumstances outlined, and in compliance with the instructions and timeframes mentioned (section 1(a)-(c)). The AD applies to DHC-8 aircraft, Series 100, 200, and 300, with serial numbers 003 to 563 (section 2). The AD requires the inspection of the rudder pedal adjustment fittings, part number 82710038-101, for cracks in accordance with Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) A8-27-91, dated 12 September 2000 (section 3(1)). Any cracked fitting must be replaced before further flight. When performing maintenance checks in response to a reported rudder control system defect, the rudder pedal adjustment fitting must be inspected as per Requirement 1 (section 3(2)). Cracked fittings may be replaced by either new aluminium fittings, P/N 82710038-01, or steel fittings, P/N 82710080-101. New aluminium fittings must be inspected in accordance with ASB A8-27-91, while the installation of a new steel fitting constitutes terminating action of this Directive (section 3(2)(a)-(b)). Compliance with these requirements must occur within specified flight hour intervals: initially, within 5,000 flight hours since new or within 500 flight hours after the effective date of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 flight hours (section 4(1)-(2)). The AD imposes obligations on the parties it governs, specifically requiring the inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the rudder pedal adjustment fittings to prevent potential rudder control issues. This involves adhering to the instructions provided in the Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin and ensuring compliance with the specified flight hour intervals. The AD also sets out the consequences of not complying with these obligations, which could potentially lead to safety issues such as jammed rudder pedals and loss of rudder control. The directive was issued to address reports of stiff rudder pedal operation caused by cracking and deforming upper rudder pedal adjustment fittings, and failure to comply could result in serious safety hazards. There are no specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences stated in the text for non-compliance with the AD. However, the implications of not adhering to the AD could include compromised aircraft safety and potential regulatory action by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Non-compliance could lead to grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed, and could also result in penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or other related legislation if the non-compliance leads to an aviation safety incident.