COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) Series Aeroplanes
AD/F100/26 MLG Main Fitting Sub-Assembly 4/99
Applicability: F.28 Mk.0100 aircraft, all serial numbers equipped with Messier-Dowty MLG Part Number (P/N) 201072011, 201072012, 201072013, 201072014, 201072015, or
201072016; and Messier-Dowty MLG Main Fitting Sub-Assemblies P/N 201072283, 201072284, and 201251258.
Requirement: 1. Inspect MLG Main Fitting Sub-Assemblies, P/N 201072283, 201072284, and 201251258, in accordance with Part A.(3) of Section 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin (SB) F100-32-86.
2. Re-inspect and rework in accordance with Parts A.(4) and/or A.(5), as applicable, of Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of Messier-Dowty SB F100-32-86. Report findings to Messier-Dowty Limited, or to the regional Messier-Dowty Customer Support Centre.
Note: RLD BLA 1996-133(A) refers.
Compliance: 1. For affected Parts fitted to aircraft, within six months of the effective date of this Directive.
For affected Parts not fitted to an aircraft, within six months of the effective date of this Directive or before flight, whichever occurs last.
Note: There is a possibility of the above parts being held as spares. These parts could be affected by the same problem, hence a requirement to inspect such stocks prior to use.
2. Before further flight, if any defects are found during the inspection in accordance with Requirement 1.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 April 1999.
Background: A report has been received of a cracked main fitting sub-assembly of a Messier- Dowty MLG installed on a F.28 Mk.0100 aircraft. The crack extended from the area of the side stay attachment lug to the base of the main fitting. Apparently, the crack initiated from the bottom of the affected lug’s internal diameter. Investigation revealed that the failure was caused by corrosion of the area, resulting from damage to the surface protection during honing of the bushes.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses various directives to ensure airworthiness standards for aircraft. Enacted by the Australian Government, this legislation aims to maintain and improve safety in civil aviation through specific airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/F100/26, focuses on the Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing a reported issue of cracked main landing gear (MLG) main fitting sub-assemblies. This directive mandates inspections and necessary rework of the affected parts to prevent potential safety hazards due to corrosion, which can compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. Compliance with this directive is crucial to ensure the continued airworthiness of the specified aircraft models, reflecting the regulatory commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.
The policy objective behind AD/F100/26 is to mitigate risks associated with the identified corrosion issue in the MLG main fitting sub-assemblies, thereby enhancing the overall safety of the F.28 Mk.0100 aircraft. By requiring inspections and appropriate actions, the directive ensures that any defective parts are identified and rectified before they can pose a risk during flight operations. This proactive approach aligns with the broader goal of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to safeguard the public by setting stringent safety standards and ensuring compliance through detailed directives.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the maintenance of airworthiness for certain aircraft and applies to Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes that are subject to the Airworthiness Directive AD/F100/26. This regulation is applicable to all F.28 Mk.0100 aircraft equipped with specified Messier-Dowty MLG Part Numbers and Main Fitting Sub-Assemblies. The directive mandates that inspections and re-inspections of these parts be conducted in accordance with the detailed instructions outlined in Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-86. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory, with inspections required within six months of the directive’s effective date for parts fitted to aircraft or before flight if they are not currently fitted. Additionally, any defects found during inspection must be addressed before further flight. This directive underscores the importance of maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft, particularly in preventing corrosion and ensuring the safety of all flights involving these specific aircraft models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) specifically for Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes (Section 1). The directive pertains to the inspection and potential rework of the main landing gear (MLG) main fitting sub-assemblies on affected aircraft (Section 2). It specifies which Fokker F100 aircraft and parts are subject to this directive, based on serial numbers and part numbers (Section 3). The main requirements are the inspection of certain parts and re-inspection or rework as necessary, following detailed instructions provided in Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin (SB) F100-32-86 (Section 4). The directive mandates that findings from these inspections be reported to Messier-Dowty Limited or the regional Messier-Dowty Customer Support Centre (Section 5).
The Civil Aviation Regulations impose specific obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that the specified MLG main fitting sub-assemblies are inspected within six months from the effective date of the directive or before flight if the parts are not currently fitted to an aircraft (Section 6). Additionally, if any defects are identified during the initial inspection, further flight is prohibited until the parts are re-inspected and any necessary rework is completed (Section 7). For parts held as spares, the same inspection requirements apply to ensure that no defective parts are used in aircraft (Section 8).
Failure to comply with the AD can result in civil and potentially criminal consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations do not specify particular penalties in this context, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include grounding of the aircraft, fines, and other regulatory penalties (Section 9). The severity of these consequences depends on the extent of non-compliance and any resulting safety risks. The directive stresses the importance of adhering to the specified timelines and inspection procedures to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (Section 10).