AD/F27/130 Amdt 3 - Ageing Aircraft Modifications

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were introduced to regulate civil aviation within Australia and ensure safety standards are upheld. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations addresses Airworthiness Directives, which are legally enforceable rules related to the design, production, maintenance, and operation of aircraft. The Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, including Amendment 3 to AD/F27/130, focuses on ensuring the continued structural integrity of older aircraft such as the Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes. The policy objective of these directives is to mandate specific actions to address identified issues, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft in question and ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew. This particular amendment was introduced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to correct previous technical requirements and ensure compliance with international standards and Fokker's specific reports.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes, with a focus on Amendment 3 for Ageing Aircraft Modifications. This regulation applies to Fokker F27 aircraft models, excluding the Mk 050, which are listed by serial numbers in Appendices I and II of the associated Requirement Document. The directive necessitates actions in compliance with the technical requirements outlined in RLD AD 91-058/5 (A) Correction, with reference to Fokker Report No SE-278, Issue No 3. The purpose of this directive is to ensure the continued structural integrity of older aircraft by implementing specific modifications rather than conducting special repetitive inspections. The amendment process has seen revisions, with Amendment 1 revising SB F27/55-61, Amendment 2 revising SB F27/57-68 and re-issuing Fokker Report No SE-278, and Amendment 3 correcting Fokker SB F27/57-68 Revision 1 in Appendix I of the Requirement Document. This amendment has been effective from 13 October 1994, with compliance standards as detailed in the Requirement Document.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes through AD/F27/130 Amendment 3. This directive applies to the F27 model (excluding the Mk 050) with specific serial numbers detailed in Appendices I and II of the Requirement Document (sections 1, 2). The primary requirement of this directive is for the aircraft to undergo modifications as per the technical specifications outlined in RLD AD 91-058/5 (A) Correction (section 3). This correction pertains to ensuring the structural integrity of the ageing aircraft, referencing Fokker Report No SE-278, Issue No 3 (section 4). Compliance with these modifications must be carried out in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in the Requirement Document (section 5). The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Operators and maintainers of the Fokker F27 aircraft must ensure that the specified modifications are carried out by qualified personnel and in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in the Requirement Document. This includes following the detailed instructions in the Fokker Report No SE-278, Issue No 3, and ensuring that the modifications are completed in a manner that maintains the airworthiness of the aircraft (section 5). Operators must also keep records of all modifications performed and maintain these records for future reference and compliance audits (section 6). Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive may result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations provide for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Civil penalties can include fines, with the maximum penalty varying based on the severity of the breach. In criminal cases, non-compliance may result in imprisonment, with the maximum penalty also depending on the nature and extent of the breach (section 7). Additionally, non-compliance can lead to the suspension or revocation of an operator’s licence, which would prevent the continued operation of the aircraft in question (section 8). The enforcement of these penalties is intended to ensure that all Fokker F27 aircraft maintain their airworthiness and structural integrity, thereby enhancing aviation safety.