AD/DO-27/12 - Horizontal Tail Bearing Fitting Rivets

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include specific provisions within Part 39 addressing the airworthiness of aircraft, particularly through Airworthiness Directives (ADs). One such directive, AD/DO27/12, was introduced to address a safety concern related to the Dornier DO-27 Series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with the primary objective of mitigating the risk of loosening rivets at critical points such as the horizontal tail bearing fitting. The directive mandates compliance within 30 days of the specified date, 9 October 1996, and refers to a specific service bulletin (SB1140-0000) issued by the manufacturer, Daimler Benz Aerospace/Dornier, on 29 September 1995. This legislative measure aims to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft fleet by enforcing corrective actions as outlined in the referenced service bulletin.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, establish the scope and application of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's airworthiness directives for specific aircraft, including the Dornier DO-27 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/DO27/12, pertains to horizontal tail bearing fitting rivets and applies to all Dornier DO-27 Series aircraft regardless of serial number. The directive mandates compliance with the specifications outlined in the Daimler Benz Aerospace/Dornier Service Bulletin SB1140-0000 dated 29 September 1995, with the requirement to implement the necessary actions within 30 days following 9 October 1996. This directive addresses the potential issue of rivet loosening at the bearing flange and the “L” profile of the frame, as referenced by LBA AD 96-271, to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in operation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contain detailed provisions for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. One such directive is AD/DO27/12, which pertains to the Dornier DO-27 Series Aeroplanes, particularly addressing the horizontal tail bearing fitting rivets (Section 13/96). This directive mandates compliance with the technical instructions outlined in the Daimler Benz Aerospace/Dornier SB1140-0000 dated 29 September 1995 (Section 13/96). It also notes that the German Federal Airworthiness Authority has issued a similar directive, LBA AD 96-271, indicating international recognition and application of the required measures (Section 13/96). Operators of the affected Dornier DO-27 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the specified actions are taken within 30 days from 09 October 1996 to address the identified issue of rivet loosening at the bearing flange and “L” profile of the frame (Section 13/96). Compliance with AD/DO27/12 involves a series of obligations for the aircraft operators. Primarily, they must adhere to the technical specifications and procedures outlined in the referenced Daimler Benz Aerospace/Dornier SB1140-0000 document. This includes conducting thorough inspections and, if necessary, making repairs or replacements to the rivets to prevent loosening. The operators must ensure that the work is performed by qualified personnel and that all actions are documented and certified as complete before the aircraft is returned to service (Section 13/96). Additionally, operators are required to maintain records of the compliance activities, which may be subject to inspection by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/DO27/12 can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance may be considered an offence, leading to potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, but they could include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, and other regulatory actions. Additionally, failure to adhere to the directive could result in safety risks, potentially leading to severe incidents or accidents, thereby impacting the operator’s reputation and potentially resulting in civil or criminal liability for any harm caused.