AD/F27/81 - Engine Mount Tubes - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. These regulations, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aim to maintain high standards of airworthiness and safety in the aviation industry. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 focuses on Airworthiness Directives, which are mandatory orders to address identified safety issues. The legislation mandates that certain Fokker F27 Series Aeroplanes must undergo inspections of engine mount tubes to ensure they do not develop cracks that could compromise the safety of the aircraft. This directive was introduced to fill a critical gap in ensuring the structural integrity of aircraft components, thereby safeguarding the safety of passengers and crew. The policy objective is to prevent potential in-flight failures by regularly inspecting and maintaining the specified aircraft components.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically mandate the applicability of Airworthiness Directives for Fokker F27 Series aeroplanes, with a focus on engine mount tubes. This legislation applies to all Fokker F27 models that have engine mount parts with specific serial numbers installed, namely from 590 to 725. The directive is concerned with ensuring that these engine mount tubes are inspected for cracks either using the radiographic technique as prescribed in Fokker F27 SB F27/71-25 or an alternative non-destructive technique approved by the Secretary. Compliance with these inspection requirements is mandatory, with the first inspection to be conducted within 500 hours of time in service following 31 December 1973, and subsequent inspections to be carried out at intervals not exceeding one year. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this regulation is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform standard across the nation for aviation safety.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, addresses critical safety requirements for Fokker F27 Series aeroplanes. For Fokker F27 aeroplanes equipped with engine mount parts number (P/N) 27.1-8101-000-403 with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 590 to 725, the directive mandates thorough inspections of engine mount tubes. This directive, identified as AD/F27/81, is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and safety of these aircraft. The requirement, as outlined in section 1, necessitates the inspection of specified engine mount tubes for cracks. The inspection can be performed using either the radiographic technique as detailed in Fokker F27 Service Bulletin (SB) F27/71-25 or an alternative non-destructive technique approved by the Secretary. This ensures that any potential structural issues are identified and addressed promptly. The compliance period stipulates that the inspections must be completed within 500 hours of time in service following 31 December 1973, and thereafter, the inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding one year. The Act imposes significant obligations on the parties governed by it, primarily focusing on ensuring the safety of Fokker F27 aeroplanes. Operators and maintainers of these aircraft must adhere to the specified inspection protocols to prevent potential safety hazards. This includes following the detailed procedures for radiographic inspection as outlined in Fokker F27 SB F27/71-25 or ensuring that any alternative technique used is approved by the Secretary. Furthermore, the operators and maintainers must ensure that these inspections are carried out within the prescribed timeframes to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with these directives can result in serious consequences. The legislation does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences within the provided text, but it is understood that non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to severe repercussions under broader civil aviation laws. Such repercussions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges for operators or individuals responsible for the non-compliance. These measures are in place to ensure the highest standards of aviation safety are maintained across the industry.