AD/EMY/29 - RFD Liferaft

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, include AD/EMY/29 concerning RFD Liferafts. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation aims to address safety issues related to the improper installation of bridge pieces on certain RFD liferafts, which could restrict gas flow into fender tubes and boarding ramps. The objective is to ensure the airworthiness of the affected liferafts by mandating compliance with RFD LIMITED Service Bulletin 25-69 and UK CAA AD 001-02-93. Compliance with these directives is required at the next repack or scheduled overhaul interval of the liferaft after 24 June 1993, to rectify any identified issues and maintain safety standards in civil aviation. This legislative instrument, created under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, targets the problem of potentially hazardous liferaft installations by setting forth specific maintenance and repair requirements. The directive applies to RFD liferafts Type 10R MK 1 and SAR MK 1 with serial numbers 10R 152 through 10R 1027, as well as liferafts Type 14R MK 1 with serial numbers 14R 213 through 14R 1020. The overarching goal is to enhance safety by ensuring that all affected liferafts meet the specified airworthiness standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, mandates certain safety directives concerning emergency equipment used on aircraft, including liferafts. This regulation applies to specific RFD liferaft models, namely Type 10R MK 1 and SAR MK 1 with serial numbers ranging from 10R 152 to 10R 1027, and Type 14R MK 1 with serial numbers from 14R 213 to 14R 1020. The directive requires adherence to RFD LIMITED Service Bulletin 25-69, ensuring these liferafts are equipped correctly to prevent any restriction of gas flow into the fender tubes and boarding ramps. Compliance with this directive must be achieved at the next repack or scheduled overhaul interval of the liferaft after 24 June 1993. Although the directive is specific to these models, it is influenced by the UK CAA AD 001-02-93, indicating an international alignment in aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107, specifies the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD/EMY/29), focusing on emergency equipment, particularly RFD liferafts. Section 107 mandates that specific RFD liferafts, namely Type 10R MK 1 and SAR MK 1 with serial numbers ranging from 10R 152 to 10R 1027, and Type 14R MK 1 with serial numbers from 14R 213 to 14R 1020, must comply with the directive. This requirement stems from Service Bulletin 25-69 and references the UK Civil Aviation Authority AD 001-02-93. The directive necessitates action in accordance with the service bulletin, ensuring that the liferafts meet the specified standards to prevent potential gas flow restrictions in the fender tubes and boarding ramps. The obligations under this Act are specific to the entities managing the mentioned liferafts. They must ensure compliance with the RFD LIMITED Service Bulletin 25-69, which involves a detailed inspection of the liferafts. The inspection must focus on verifying the correct location of the bridge piece attached patches, as outlined in Service Bulletin 25-46. If the installation is found to be incorrect, repair procedures must be implemented to rectify the issue. Compliance with these directives must occur at the next repack or scheduled overhaul interval of the liferafts, following the date of 24 June 1993. The underlying aim is to ensure that the liferafts maintain their airworthiness and operational integrity. Failure to comply with the directives outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 could lead to significant consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not explicitly stated in the provided text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can typically result in severe penalties. These may include fines, sanctions, or even criminal charges, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and the resultant risk to aviation safety. The penalties can be substantial, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring that emergency equipment such as liferafts are in optimal working condition to safeguard lives in aviation emergencies. The importance of adhering to these directives cannot be overstated, as the correct installation and maintenance of liferafts are crucial for passenger safety. The directive's background information highlights the potential restriction of gas flow into the fender tubes and boarding ramps if the bridge piece attached patches are not correctly positioned. This condition could compromise the liferafts' functionality, thereby increasing the risk during an emergency evacuation. Thus, the mandate for compliance ensures that all affected liferafts are checked and maintained according to the specified standards, mitigating any potential safety hazards.