AD/F100/17 - Vertical Stabiliser Torsion Box

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, introduced by the Australian Parliament, aim to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation was enacted to address safety issues and compliance with international standards, ensuring the integrity of aircraft operations. One specific legislative instrument, F2006B09617, targets the Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes, addressing structural issues identified in the vertical stabiliser torsion box. The policy objective is to mandate modifications and inspections to prevent potential structural failures and ensure the airworthiness of affected aircraft. The directive specifies modifications and inspection intervals based on flight cycles, aiming to maintain the structural integrity of the vertical stabiliser and prevent deterioration that could compromise flight safety. This directive is part of a broader effort to enhance aviation safety and comply with international civil aviation standards.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument pertains to the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 under Part 39 - 105, which governs the Airworthiness Directives for specific aircraft models, including the Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) Series Aeroplanes. The directive applies to aircraft with serial numbers within the specified range, mandating certain modifications and inspections to ensure airworthiness. The requirements include modifying the Vertical Stabiliser Torsion Box as per designated Fokker Service Bulletins, inspecting specific structural components, and adhering to the outlined compliance timelines. These directives are critical for ensuring the safety and structural integrity of the specified Fokker F100 aircraft. The modifications and inspections must be carried out according to the stipulated flight cycle thresholds and time frames, ensuring that any identified defects are rectified promptly to maintain compliance with aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives that governs the safety and maintenance of certain aircraft models, including the Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) Series Aeroplanes. The directive AD/F100/17 pertains to the Vertical Stabiliser Torsion Box of these aircraft, and it outlines several requirements to ensure the continued airworthiness of the specified Fokker F100 models. The main operative sections of this directive require modifications and inspections to be conducted on the vertical stabiliser torsion box and rib structures. Specifically, section 1 of AD/F100/17 mandates that the Vertical Stabiliser Torsion Box be modified according to Fokker Service Bulletin (SB) F100-55-009 dated 9 April 1990 and SB F100-55-014 dated 29 November 1990, unless modification SB F100-55-018 dated 19 May 1993 has already been performed before the aircraft accumulates 6,000 flight cycles. Section 2 requires an inspection of the flanges and finger strips at Rib 5.0 of the vertical stabiliser, in accordance with SB F100-55-019 Revision 1 dated 19 May 1993. Section 3 mandates a modification to Rib 5.0 of the vertical stabiliser in accordance with SB F100-55-018 dated 19 May 1993. If cracks are found during any inspections, the manufacturer should be contacted for repair instructions. The obligations imposed by this directive require affected aircraft operators to adhere to the specified timelines for modifications and inspections. Operators must ensure that the modifications in Requirement 1 are completed either before the aircraft accumulates 6,000 flight cycles or within 30 days of the directive's effective date, whichever is later. The inspection in Requirement 2 must be completed before the aircraft accumulates 8,500 flight cycles since new or within 30 days of the effective date, whichever is later, and subsequently, reinspect every 2,000 flight cycles until the modification in Requirement 3 is performed. Requirement 3's modifications must be completed either before the aircraft accumulates 7,300 flight cycles since new or before it accumulates 13,500 flight cycles since new and immediately after an inspection in accordance with Requirement 2, unless the modifications are completed prior to 7,300 flight cycles. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety implications. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally can lead to severe consequences, including the potential grounding of the aircraft, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and other regulatory sanctions. Such non-compliance could also result in legal liability for any incidents or accidents arising from the failure to adhere to these safety requirements.