AD/F100/35 - Elevator Tension Regulator Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended in 2006, address the critical issue of ensuring the airworthiness of specific Fokker F100 aircraft models. This legislation was enacted by the Australian Parliament to safeguard the integrity and safety of civil aviation within the country. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced this Airworthiness Directive to respond to an incident where an aircraft's elevator control column could not be fully moved during a landing due to a loose bolt in the elevator tension regulator assembly. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that the specified Fokker F100 aircraft are thoroughly inspected and any issues are rectified to prevent similar incidents in the future, thereby maintaining high safety standards in Australian civil aviation. The directive mandates a visual inspection of the elevator gustlock counter bracket attachment bolts on certain Fokker F100 models, as outlined in the directive. The compliance deadline set for this inspection was before 4 December 1999, with the directive becoming effective on 4 November 1999. This proactive measure aims to address and mitigate potential safety risks associated with the identified manufacturing issue, thereby reinforcing the overall safety framework within Australian civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under Part 39 - 105, specifically addresses the airworthiness of Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This regulation applies to specific Fokker F100 aircraft, namely the Model F.28 Mk. 0070 aircraft with serial numbers 11562, 11565 through 11572, 11575 through 11583, and 11585, as well as the Model F.28 Mk. 0100 with serial numbers 11496 through 11518. The requirement is for a visual inspection of the elevator gustlock counter bracket attachment bolts, following the instructions outlined in STORK Fokker Service Bulletin F100-27-076 dated July 1, 1999. This inspection must be completed before December 4, 1999, unless already accomplished, and the directive itself became effective on November 4, 1999. The directive was issued in response to an incident where an aircraft's control column could not be moved to its fully aft position due to a loose bolt, necessitating this safety measure to ensure continued airworthiness of the specified aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, outlines the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Fokker F100 (F28 Mk 100) series aeroplanes. The particular directive in focus here is AD/F100/35, which pertains to the elevator tension regulator assembly (section 11/99). This directive applies to specific Fokker F100 series aircraft, including model F.28 Mk. 0070 with serial numbers 11562, 11565 through 11572, 11575 through 11583, and 11585, as well as model F.28 Mk. 0100 with serial numbers 11496 through 11518. The primary requirement of this directive is to visually inspect the elevator gustlock counter bracket attachment bolts as per Part 2 of the accomplishment instructions in STORK Fokker Service Bulletin F100-27-076, dated July 1, 1999. This inspection is mandated to ensure that no bolts are loose, which could potentially hinder the control column from moving to its fully aft position during landing, as was the case in a reported incident. Compliance with AD/F100/35 is mandatory for the specified aircraft, and this directive became effective on 4 November 1999. However, the requirement to complete the inspection must be fulfilled before 4 December 1999, unless the inspection has already been accomplished prior to this date. The directive is linked to RLD AD 1999-094, suggesting that this is part of a broader set of actions taken to address airworthiness concerns related to the elevator tension regulator assembly. The directive aims to mitigate risks associated with potential failures in the elevator mechanism, ensuring that the aircraft remain safe for operation. Entities governed by this directive, such as aircraft operators and maintenance organisations, must ensure that the specified inspections are carried out meticulously and in compliance with the outlined procedures. This involves conducting a thorough visual inspection of the elevator gustlock counter bracket attachment bolts and verifying that they are secure, as per the instructions provided in the Fokker Service Bulletin. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and other regulatory consequences. Operators must maintain records of compliance to demonstrate adherence to the AD and to provide evidence of airworthiness to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority upon request. Non-compliance with the requirements set forth in AD/F100/35 could lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 stipulate that any breach of airworthiness directives can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring aircraft safety. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive but can be determined by the relevant authorities based on the severity and impact of the non-compliance. Therefore, it is imperative for all relevant parties to take the directive seriously and ensure full compliance to avoid any potential legal repercussions.