AD/F27/135 - Nose Wheel Steering

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, established under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations includes airworthiness directives which mandate corrective actions for specific aircraft models to address safety concerns. The enactment of this legislation by the Australian Parliament aims to close safety gaps and ensure compliance with international standards, thereby safeguarding the public and maintaining the integrity of the nation’s airspace. One such directive, AD/F27/135, pertains to Fokker F27 Series aeroplanes and addresses issues related to the nose wheel steering system. The directive was introduced to address the problem of broken dowel pins in the Walter Kidde nose-wheel steering system, which had caused loss of directional control and, in severe cases, led to the collapse of the nose gear. The policy objective is to ensure that affected aircraft are maintained to a standard that prevents such safety incidents, thereby protecting passengers and crew and maintaining the high safety standards expected in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, mandates stringent safety directives for the operation of aircraft within Australia. Under this regulatory framework, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued Airworthiness Directive AD/F27/135 concerning the Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes, excluding the MK 050 variant, that are equipped with the Walter Kidde Nose-wheel Steering System, identified by the part number 893954. This directive applies to all such aircraft and requires adherence to Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-166 dated 7 September 1993, ensuring corrective measures are undertaken to address the known issue of broken dowel pins in the nose-wheel steering system, which has led to critical safety concerns such as loss of directional control upon landing and, in severe cases, collapse of the nose gear. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 500 hours of the aircraft's time in service from 1 December 1993, or by 1 February 1994, whichever comes first, followed by regular rechecking of the bolt torque value at each scheduled B-check thereafter. This directive is integral to maintaining the airworthiness and operational safety of the affected Fokker F27 aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives aimed at ensuring the safety of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/F27/135, pertains to Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the nose wheel steering system (section 1). This directive applies to all F27 aircraft (except MK 050) fitted with the Walter Kidde Nose-wheel Steering System (steering unit gearbox housing assembly) P/N 893954 (section 2). The requirement is that operators must take specific action as detailed in Fokker Service Bulletin F27/32-166 dated 7 September 1993, unless this action has already been carried out (section 3). Operators of these aircraft are mandated to comply with this directive by either completing the specified action within 500 hours of time in service from 1 December 1993 or by 1 February 1994, whichever comes first (section 4). Post-compliance, operators must recheck the bolt torque value at each B-check to ensure ongoing airworthiness (section 5). The directive references BLA AD 93-132 (A) and Fokker F27 Maintenance Circular No 32-6 for additional context and guidance (section 6). The Civil Aviation Regulations impose clear obligations on aircraft operators, requiring them to adhere to the specified maintenance and inspection procedures to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to comply with the directive may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding of the aircraft until the necessary actions are taken. Such non-compliance could also result in serious safety risks, including loss of directional control and structural damage to the aircraft. In terms of penalties and consequences, the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives within the provided text. However, non-compliance generally results in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, the issuance of directives for corrective action, and in severe cases, the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate. Such regulatory actions are intended to ensure that all aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of the aviation system.