AD/F27/122 Amdt 1 - MLG Upper Member

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, address the safety directives for maintaining aircraft airworthiness. One such directive, AD/F27/122 Amendment 1, pertains to Fokker F27 Series aeroplanes, targeting models with specific serial numbers. This legislative instrument was introduced to address the identified issue of fatigue cracks at the intersection of the side face and the cross bore in the main undercarriage upper members of certain Fokker F27 aeroplanes. This problem was identified during routine inspections, prompting Fokker to issue a service bulletin (Fokker SB F27/32-162) requiring an inspection and modification to prevent further cracking. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority mandates compliance with this directive to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft, requiring modifications to be completed before 1 January 1992. This amendment aligns the directive with the related regulatory change, now including the Mk 500 series in its scope.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, which are regulatory measures ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. The regulations apply to Fokker F27 series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 10102 through 10684, 10686 and 10687, and 10689 through 10692. The directive mandates an inspection and modification of the main undercarriage upper members to address fatigue cracks at the intersection of the side face and the cross bore, following Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-162. This requirement was necessitated by findings of fatigue cracks during inspections, which prompted Fokker to mandate a one-time inspection of the affected aircraft and a rework to radius the edge of the cross bore to prevent further cracking. Compliance with this airworthiness directive is expected before 1 January 1992. The directive aligns with RLD AD 91-041, which references the Fokker bulletin and extends to include the Mk 500 variant. This regulation underscores CASA's commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards in civil aviation across Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, outlines specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes. Under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, AD/F27/122 Amendment 1, dated 12/91, is pertinent to the Fokker F27 series with serial numbers ranging from 10102 through 10684, 10686 and 10687, 10689 through 10692 (Section 105). This directive mandates that an inspection and modification be conducted on the Main Landing Gear (MLG) Upper Member in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-162. The directive aligns with RLD AD 91-041, and the compliance date is set before 1 January 1992. The main operative sections of this directive require an inspection of the MLG Upper Member to identify any fatigue cracks at the intersection of the side face and the cross bore. If such cracks are found, the affected parts must be reworked to radius the edge of the cross bore. This measure aims to prevent further cracking and ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft. The requirement is to follow the Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-162, which provides detailed instructions on how to inspect and modify the affected parts. The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties governed by it include conducting a thorough inspection of the specified Fokker F27 series aeroplanes. Operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that any identified fatigue cracks are addressed according to the specified procedures outlined in Fokker SB F27/32-162. They must also maintain records of all inspections and modifications performed to demonstrate compliance with the airworthiness directive. These obligations are critical to ensure the safety and reliability of the aircraft involved. Any failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/F27/122 Amendment 1 could result in serious consequences. Non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft, potentially resulting in significant operational disruptions. Civil penalties could be imposed under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which may include fines up to a maximum penalty of $21,000 per occurrence. Additionally, criminal penalties may apply, including fines of up to $165,000 and imprisonment for up to two years. These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain the safety standards required in civil aviation.