AD/EMB-110/47 Amdt 2 - Door Locking Mechanism

Overview

The Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes Airworthiness Directive, introduced under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, was enacted to address the problem of excessive wear in the door locking mechanisms of certain models of Embraer Bandeirante aircraft. This was prompted by an incident where the rear cabin door of an overseas aircraft detached in flight, impacting the horizontal stabilizer and leading to an accident. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, introduced this directive to ensure that the integrity of the door locking mechanisms is maintained, thereby enhancing flight safety. The policy objective of this directive is to prevent similar incidents by requiring regular inspections and necessary modifications to the door locking mechanisms as specified in Embraer's service bulletins. This directive applies specifically to the EMB-110 models with serial numbers as listed in Embraer SB 110-52-0045 Revision 1. Compliance must be achieved within 500 hours of time in service after 9 December 1993. The directive has undergone amendments to incorporate revisions from Brazil's airworthiness directives and to correct editorial errors, ensuring that the directive remains effective and aligned with the latest safety standards. The directive's amendments reflect ongoing efforts to maintain high safety standards and respond to new information regarding aircraft maintenance and safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, governs the safety directives for various aircraft, including the Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to specific models of the EMB-110 series with serial numbers as outlined in Embraer Service Bulletin 110-52-0045, including the revision noted as Revision 1. The Act mandates compliance with the actions specified in the aforementioned service bulletin to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft. The directive applies nationally, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for implementing and enforcing these safety standards within Australia. The requirement necessitates action to be taken within 500 hours of time in service after 9 December 1993, unless already completed. The compliance of previous issues of this directive remains unchanged, with the current amendment effective from 26 May 1994. This legislative instrument extends its application to ensure that the identified safety concerns are addressed to prevent accidents related to the door locking mechanism of the specified aircraft models.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically for Embraer EMB-110 (Bandeirante) Series Aeroplanes, AD/EMB-110/47 Amendment 2, focus on the door locking mechanism. Section 1 outlines the applicability of the directive, detailing that it applies to Embraer EMB-110 aircraft with specific serial numbers listed in Embraer Service Bulletin 110-52-0045 Revision 1. Section 2 specifies the requirement, which mandates action in accordance with Embraer Service Bulletin 110-52-0045 or 110-52-0045 Revision 1. Compliance must be achieved within 500 hours of time in service after 9 December 1993 unless it has already been accomplished. The amendment came into effect on 26 May 1994, and the compliance of the previous issue of this directive remains unchanged. The obligations imposed by this Act on the relevant parties are clear and specific. Aircraft operators must ensure that the door locking mechanism of their Embraer EMB-110 aeroplanes meets the requirements set out in the Embraer Service Bulletin 110-52-0045 or its revision. This includes conducting an inspection to check the integrity of the specified parts of the door locking mechanism. The directive applies to aircraft with particular serial numbers and must be completed within 500 hours of service after the specified date, unless already done. Any modifications or inspections must follow the guidance provided in the relevant service bulletin. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in significant consequences. While the specific legal text does not detail penalties or consequences, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority directives can generally lead to severe civil or criminal penalties under Australian aviation law. This could include fines, grounding of the aircraft, and potential criminal charges for operators who fail to adhere to safety directives. The severity of the penalties can depend on the extent of the non-compliance and any resultant safety risks or accidents.