COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes
AD/EMB-110/43
Amdt 2
Elevator Balance Weight Arm 3/92
Applicability: Models EMB-110K1, EMB-110P1 and EMB-110-P2; equipped with 10 degrees dihedral stabilizer, but not incorporating balance weight arms P/N 110-3012-01-15 and P/N 110-3012-01-16.
Requirement: 1. Inspect in accordance with Embraer Alert Service Bulletin 110-027-0088.
2. Replace the elevator balance weight arms P/N 110-3012-01-01 and
P/N 110-3012-01-06 with P/N 110-3012-01-15 and P/N 110-3012-01-16 arms.
Note: Brazil CTA AD 90-05-03R1 Amdt 39-684 refers.
Compliance: 1. At intervals not exceeding 150 hours time in service.
2. Within 600 hours time in service after 12 January 1992. The compliance of the previous issue of this Directive was:
within the next 10 hours time in service after 23 May 1990 , and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 150 hours time in service.
Background: There have been reports of cracks in the elevator balance weight arms. This condition could result in a failure, followed by extreme vibration or flutter and loss of control of the aircraft. Amendment 1 was issued to align this Directive with a revision of the relevant country of origin AD, which requires terminating action in lieu of ongoing inspections.
Amendment 2 is issued to correct an error in the Compliance 2 calendar time.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, encompasses the requirements for the airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) administers these regulations, which aim to ensure that aircraft are maintained in a condition that allows for safe operation. The Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes AD/EMB-110/43 Amendment 2 addresses the specific issue of elevator balance weight arm cracks that could lead to significant safety hazards such as extreme vibration, flutter, and loss of control. This directive applies to certain EMB-110 models and mandates inspections and replacements of specific parts, aligning with international standards and aiming to mitigate the identified risks to enhance flight safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) series aeroplanes, encompassing models EMB-110K1, EMB-110P1, and EMB-110-P2, which are equipped with a 10 degrees dihedral stabilizer but do not include specific balance weight arms. The regulation mandates inspections and replacements to ensure airworthiness and safety, addressing the issue of reported cracks in the elevator balance weight arms that could lead to severe consequences such as loss of control. The regulation's application is nationally governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The requirement stipulates that inspections must be carried out in accordance with Embraer Alert Service Bulletin 110-027-0088, and specific balance weight arms must be replaced with P/N 110-3012-01-15 and P/N 110-3012-01-16 arms. Compliance must occur within 600 hours of the directive's issuance date of 12 January 1992 and at intervals not exceeding 150 hours thereafter. The regulation references a Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority directive to align with international safety standards and corrects a previous error in the compliance schedule.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes AD/EMB-110/43 Amendment 2, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, pertain to the inspection and replacement of elevator balance weight arms. Section 1 of the directive mandates that the inspection and replacement of elevator balance weight arms must be carried out in accordance with Embraer Alert Service Bulletin 110-027-0088. Specifically, operators must replace the elevator balance weight arms P/N 110-3012-01-01 and P/N 110-3012-01-06 with P/N 110-3012-01-15 and P/N 110-3012-01-16 arms on the applicable models, namely EMB-110K1, EMB-110P1, and EMB-110-P2, equipped with 10 degrees dihedral stabilizer and excluding those that already have the specified balance weight arms.
Operators and owners of the affected aircraft are required to comply with the inspection and replacement directives as stipulated. Under Section 2, inspections and replacements must occur at intervals not exceeding 150 hours of time in service. Furthermore, within 600 hours of time in service following 12 January 1992, the compliance must be ensured. This requirement supersedes the previous compliance stipulations, which called for compliance within the next 10 hours of time in service after 23 May 1990, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 150 hours of time in service.
The Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes AD/EMB-110/43 Amendment 2 also specifies the consequences of non-compliance. Failure to adhere to the requirements of the airworthiness directive could result in severe safety risks, including the potential for cracks in the elevator balance weight arms, leading to extreme vibration, flutter, and loss of control of the aircraft. The directive references the Brazil CTA AD 90-05-03R1 Amendment 39-684 for additional context. Given the critical nature of these safety measures, non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions, penalties, or other civil and criminal consequences as prescribed by aviation safety regulations.