AD/F27/129 - Brake Control Valve Actuating Levers

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, incorporates various airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One such directive, AD/F27/129, pertains to Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes and mandates the replacement of brake control valve actuating levers. This directive was introduced to address a critical safety issue where the actuating levers were found to fracture during operation due to fatigue and subsequent overload, as evidenced by reports from the Netherlands. The directive requires compliance by 1 May 1992, aligning with Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-161 Revision 1 dated 14 June 1991, and references Netherlands RLD AD 91-038 to ensure consistency and safety standards across jurisdictions. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, enacted this directive to safeguard against potential in-flight failures and to maintain the highest safety standards within the Australian aviation industry. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with brake system malfunctions, thereby enhancing the overall reliability and safety of Fokker F27 aircraft operating within Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, mandates the replacement of brake control valve actuating levers for all Fokker F27 series aeroplanes, irrespective of their serial numbers. This requirement is detailed in AD/F27/129, which was issued on 3rd September 1992, following reports of lever fractures during braking operations. The directive stipulates that these replacements must be conducted in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-161 Revision 1 dated 14 June 1991, referencing Netherlands RLD AD 91-038. Compliance with this directive was mandated before 1 May 1992, reflecting the urgency and critical nature of the identified safety issue, which arose from initial fatigue-induced cracks and subsequent overload fractures. The regulation applies to all operators and entities within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring the safety and compliance of Fokker F27 series aircraft across the country.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, focus on ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft. Section 105 deals with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes specific directives for different types of aircraft. In this context, AD/F27/129 pertains to Fokker F27 series aeroplanes and mandates the replacement of brake control valve actuating levers (subsection 3). The directive references Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-161 Revision 1 dated 14 June 1991, and also notes the corresponding Netherlands RLD AD 91-038, indicating that this directive has international relevance and has been issued due to safety concerns. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose certain obligations on the operators of Fokker F27 series aeroplanes. Specifically, the regulations require these operators to replace the brake control valve actuating levers in their aircraft in accordance with Fokker SB F27/32-161 Revision 1. This replacement must be carried out before 1 May 1992, as stipulated in the directive. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, which could lead to operational restrictions or grounding of the aircraft. In terms of consequences for non-compliance with the AD/F27/129 directive, the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly state penalties for breach of this specific directive. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to significant civil and criminal consequences. Civil penalties may include fines, and criminal penalties may include imprisonment, particularly if non-compliance results in an accident or incident that causes harm or loss of life. The severity of the penalties will depend on the circumstances of the non-compliance and the resultant impact on safety.