Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include provisions that are essential for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft operating within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these Regulations addresses the issuance of Airworthiness Directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for ensuring compliance with aviation safety standards. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/F27/153, was enacted to address safety issues identified in Fokker F27 series aeroplanes. The directive was introduced following incidents where the power levers of turboprop aircraft, including the F27 series, were mistakenly set to the Beta (ground) range during flight. The directive aims to rectify discrepancies in the Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM) by ensuring they align with specific operational changes outlined in Fokker Manual Change Notification - Operational (MNCO) F27-005. By mandating that any non-compliant AFMs be corrected, the directive seeks to prevent future occurrences of such unsafe conditions. The directive was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation (Safety) Act 1998, with the objective of maintaining and enhancing aviation safety by ensuring that all Fokker F27 series aircraft comply with the specified operational procedures.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to Fokker F27 series aeroplanes, encompassing models Mks 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700. This directive applies to all aircraft of these series and mandates that operators verify and, if necessary, correct their Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM) to align with Fokker Manual Change Notification - Operational (MNCO) F27-005 dated February 14, 1998. The directive requires compliance by inserting a copy of MNCO F27-005 into the AFM to ensure safety in light of known incidents where power levers were mistakenly set to the Beta (ground) range during flight. This corrective action is to be completed no later than 18 October 2000, following the directive's effective date of 4 October 2000. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to the verification and correction of procedures within the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for Fokker F27 series aircraft. Specifically, section (a) of the AD mandates that the procedures in the AFM must align with Fokker Manual Change Notification – Operational (MNCO) F27-005, dated 14 February 1998. Section (b) requires any discrepancies between the AFM and MNCO F27-005 to be corrected by incorporating a copy of MNCO F27-005 into the AFM. This directive applies to Fokker F27 Mks 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 series aircraft. The AD specifies that these compliance actions must be completed by 18 October 2000, with the directive becoming effective from 4 October 2000. The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive on the relevant parties include ensuring that the Aircraft Flight Manuals for the specified Fokker F27 series aircraft are updated to reflect the operational changes outlined in MNCO F27-005. This involves verifying the existing AFM procedures and making any necessary corrections to align with the content of MNCO F27-005. The directive mandates that these updates be completed by the specified compliance date to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Additionally, the directive references RLD AD 2000-100, indicating that compliance with this additional directive may also be relevant. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety implications, potentially leading to operational issues or incidents related to the inadvertent placement of power levers in the Beta (ground) range during flight. The AD does not explicitly state penalties or legal consequences for non-compliance, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved, fines, and other regulatory sanctions. The severity of the penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the non-compliance and the impact on aviation safety.