COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.
Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes
AD/DHC-8/92 RDS86 Weather Radar Circuit Breakers 7/2003
Applicability: DHC-8 Model 102 aircraft, serial numbers 023 through 392, equipped with RDS86 Weather Radar System but excluding those aircraft equipped with option CR834CH00284.
Requirement: For aircraft with options CSI 82309, CR834CH82309 or CR811CH82309 incorporated - Modify the electrical power circuit in accordance with the procedures detailed in paragraph 2.2 of Bombardier ModSum IS8Q3450000 by replacing the 7.5 amp circuit breaker with a 5 amp breaker and installing an additional 3 amp breaker.
For aircraft without options CSI 82309, CR834CH82309 or CR811CH82309 incorporated - Modify the electrical power circuit in accordance with the procedures detailed in paragraph 2.3 of ModSum IS8Q3450000 by replacing the 7.5 amp circuit breaker with a 5 amp breaker and installing an additional 3 amp breaker.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-2003-13 refers.
Compliance: Within twelve months after the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 July 2003.
Background: Overheating of the radar ribbon cable and/or the radar indicator can result in smoke in the cockpit. The overheating can occur because the 7.5 amp circuit breaker installed for both the radar transmitter and radar indicator does not provide adequate protection in the event of a short circuit within the radar indicator.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 30 May 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 June 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, address the need for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. The 1998 Act was enacted to provide a robust framework for regulating civil aviation safety, aiming to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with safety standards. One specific legislative instrument, F2006B09252, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, targets a particular safety concern with Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive, issued on 7 July 2003, was enacted in response to identified risks of overheating in the weather radar system of certain DHC-8 models. The objective of this directive is to rectify the unsafe condition by modifying the electrical power circuit, as detailed in the requirement section, to prevent potential smoke in the cockpit caused by overheating of the radar ribbon cable and radar indicator.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies specifically to Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes, specifically Model 102 aircraft, with serial numbers ranging from 023 to 392, and equipped with an RDS86 Weather Radar System, excluding those aircraft fitted with the option CR834CH00284. The directive mandates modifications to the electrical power circuit to mitigate the risk of overheating of the radar ribbon cable and radar indicator, which can lead to smoke in the cockpit. The required modifications include replacing a 7.5 amp circuit breaker with a 5 amp breaker and installing an additional 3 amp breaker, with specific procedures outlined for aircraft with certain options. The directive applies nationwide within Australia, aligning with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and is effective from 10 July 2003, with compliance expected within twelve months of this date. The directive references a similar Transport Canada AD, CF-2003-13, and is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette to ensure broad dissemination and adherence.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1). This AD (AD/DHC-8/92) mandates specific actions to be taken on Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes to address an identified unsafe condition. The AD applies to DHC-8 Model 102 aircraft with certain serial numbers and equipped with the RDS86 Weather Radar System, excluding those with option CR834CH00284.
The directive requires modifications to the electrical power circuit of the aircraft. For those DHC-8 Model 102 aircraft equipped with options CSI 82309, CR834CH82309, or CR811CH82309, the electrical power circuit must be modified by replacing the 7.5 amp circuit breaker with a 5 amp breaker and installing an additional 3 amp breaker. For aircraft without these options, the same modifications must be made as per the detailed procedures in paragraph 2.3 of ModSum IS8Q3450000. This directive references Transport Canada AD CF-2003-13.
Entities governed by this AD must comply with the requirements within twelve months from the effective date of the directive, which is 10 July 2003. This means that all specified aircraft must undergo the required modifications to ensure they meet the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Failure to comply with these directives can result in serious safety risks, such as overheating of the radar ribbon cable and radar indicator, which can lead to smoke in the cockpit.
Failure to comply with the AD can lead to significant consequences, including potential enforcement actions by CASA. The AD highlights that the 7.5 amp circuit breaker does not provide adequate protection in the event of a short circuit within the radar indicator, which can result in overheating and safety hazards. The AD was issued to mitigate these risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.