AD/EMB-110/13 Amdt 6 - Rudder Upper Hinge Support

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. The regulations encompass various safety directives and requirements for aircraft, including those pertaining to airworthiness. One such directive is AD/EMB-110/13 Amendment 6, which addresses specific maintenance requirements for the Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address safety concerns related to cracks in the rudder upper hinge support structure, which had been reported to the manufacturer. The policy objective of these regulations is to ensure that aircraft maintain airworthiness and comply with safety standards through regular inspections and maintenance. The specific requirement in Amendment 6 mandates inspections of the rudder upper hinge brackets, with certain actions to be taken within specified time intervals following service hours post-designated dates, to prevent structural failures and ensure ongoing airworthiness.

Scope and Application

The Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to specific serial numbers of the aircraft, namely those ranging from 110001 to 110141, 110143 to 110146, 110148 to 110149, 110152 to 110178, 110180 to 110190, 110192 to 110359, and 110361 to 110480 inclusive. This legislation, falling under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, mandates specific actions concerning the rudder upper hinge support, with a focus on preventing cracks in the rudder upper hinge bracket parts. The regulation applies to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and governs the conduct and maintenance of the specified aircraft models. This directive does not exclude any entities or individuals based on the provided text, meaning all operators of the affected aircraft are required to comply. Compliance is achieved through specific inspection requirements, either through dye penetrant inspection or detailed visual inspection, depending on the condition of the rudder at the time of inspection. The inspections are mandated at specific intervals post the effective date of the directive, and these intervals can be extended or modified by subsequent amendments, as seen in Amendment 6, which aligns the inspection intervals with existing scheduled inspections, allowing for a 5% tolerance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, outlines specific airworthiness directives concerning the Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the rudder upper hinge support. This directive, AD/EMB-110/13 Amendment 6, applies to specific serial numbers of the Embraer EMB-110 aircraft (sections 1-3). The directive mandates two actions related to the rudder upper hinge bracket, P/N 4A-3441, with specific timelines and conditions (section 4). Firstly, when the rudder is removed from the aircraft, a dye penetrant inspection must be performed, focusing on areas under and around the bolt supporting flange (section 4(a)). Alternatively, if the rudder remains in situ, a detailed visual inspection of the same areas must be conducted (section 4(b)). The directive imposes clear obligations on the operators and maintainers of the specified Embraer EMB-110 aircraft. Operators must ensure compliance with the inspection requirements within specified timeframes post particular dates. Specifically, the initial inspection must be completed within 300 hours of time in service after 7 June 1989 (section 5(a)). Subsequent inspections must occur at each C type inspection, continuing until modifications are made in line with the directive (section 5(b)). For the second requirement, a visual inspection must be completed within 600 hours of time in service after 27 December 1990, followed by inspections at each C type check (section 6(a)). For the alternative visual inspection, it must be performed within 300 hours of time in service after 11 July 1991, and then at each B2 type inspection (section 6(b)). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant safety risks, potentially resulting in severe accidents or incidents. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose penalties for non-compliance, which could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement actions. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive but are typically severe given the critical nature of maintaining airworthiness standards. Operators are strongly encouraged to adhere to the stipulated inspection intervals and procedures to avoid any regulatory repercussions.