COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/F28/81 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/F28/81
Amdt 1
MLG Attachment Bracket 3/2001
Applicability: Model F28 Mk. 1000 through Mk. 4000 series, serial numbers 11003 through 11091, 11094 through 11171, 11991, and 11192.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the affected area of the upper girder of the MLG bracket and wing stringer fitting in accordance with Parts 2A and 2B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin (SB) F28/57-90 Revision 1, dated August 28, 2000.
2. If no cracks were found as a result of the inspection required by the original issue of this Directive, re-inspect in accordance with Requirement 1.
3. If cracks are found, before further flight, accomplish temporary repairs, and thereafter, depending on crack length, as applicable, perform repetitive inspections at the times specified in Table 1 of this Directive; in accordance with Part 3 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker SB F28/57-90 Revision 1.
Note 1: Replacement of the MLG bracket must be done in accordance with Fokker SB F28/57-92.
Note 2: RLD AD 1999-045/2 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 and 2: Within 12 months after 22 March 2001. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 18 months.
For Requirement 3: As per Table 1 below:
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
TABLE 1
Crack Length Repair Instruction Repeat Insp. Interval
Less than 3 mm. Install concentric bushing* 18 months
Greater than 3mm, less than 7mm.
Install eccentric bushing* 18 months
Greater than 7mm, less than 15 mm.
Remove cracked part and accomplish repairs*
18 months
Greater than 15 mm, less than 25 mm.
Greater than 25 mm, less than 40 mm.
As above 250 flight cycles or 1 month
As above 50 flight cycles or 1 week
Greater than 40mm. Replace MLG bracket
* As an alternative to the above repair action, the MLG bracket may be inspected at intervals not to exceed 250 flight cycles or 1 month, whichever occurs first.
This amendment becomes effective on 22 March 2001.
Background: The RLD received a number of reports from F28 operators of cracks discovered in the upper girder of the main landing gear (MLG) bracket, between the stringer fitting bolts, attaching the MLG bracket and fitting to the wing upper skin. Crack surface investigation has shown that the cracking occurred due to stress corrosion.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revised RLD AD which introduces repetitive inspections as a result of original inspection findings.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 15 July 1999.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 8 February 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 February 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, form the foundation of civil aviation safety regulation in the country. These regulations establish the standards for the operation and maintenance of aircraft to ensure public safety and the integrity of the aviation system. One specific area of focus within these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address identified safety issues. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives includes specific directives aimed at mitigating identified safety risks. For instance, Airworthiness Directive AD/F28/81 Amendment 1 pertains to Fokker F28 series aeroplanes and was introduced to address the problem of stress corrosion cracks found in the main landing gear (MLG) bracket of certain models. This AD mandates detailed inspections and specific repair actions based on the severity of the cracks found, with the overarching policy objective being the enhancement of aircraft safety by ensuring the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, applies to Fokker F28 series aeroplanes, specifically model F28 Mk. 1000 through Mk. 4000 series, serial numbers 11003 through 11091, 11094 through 11171, 11991, and 11192. This directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate to address an identified unsafe condition concerning the upper girder of the main landing gear (MLG) bracket. The action required includes inspecting the affected area of the upper girder of the MLG bracket and wing stringer fitting, and taking specified actions depending on the presence and length of any cracks found. The inspection and repair instructions are detailed in Fokker Service Bulletin (SB) F28/57-90 Revision 1. Compliance with the directive must be achieved within certain timeframes, with initial inspections required within 12 months of the directive's issuance, followed by repetitive inspections at intervals not exceeding 18 months or specific flight cycle limits, depending on the severity of the cracks. This Airworthiness Directive revokes the previous AD/F28/81 and amends it to incorporate the repetitive inspections.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Fokker F28 series aeroplanes, serial numbers 11003 through 11091, 11094 through 11171, 11991, and 11192 (section 1). This AD, AD/F28/81 Amendment 1, focuses on the inspection and repair of the upper girder of the main landing gear (MLG) bracket and the wing stringer fitting to address potential cracks due to stress corrosion (section 2). The AD requires that inspections and repairs be carried out according to specific instructions provided in Fokker Service Bulletin (SB) F28/57-90 Revision 1, dated August 28, 2000 (section 3). The compliance timeline mandates initial inspections within 12 months of the AD's effective date, with subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 18 months (section 4). If cracks are detected, temporary repairs must be made before further flight, and follow-up inspections are scheduled based on the length of the crack (section 5).
The AD imposes several obligations on the operators of the affected Fokker F28 series aeroplanes. Firstly, they must ensure that inspections of the specified areas are conducted in accordance with the instructions detailed in Fokker SB F28/57-90 Revision 1. This includes adhering to the Accomplishment Instructions in Parts 2A and 2B for initial inspections and Parts 3 for follow-up inspections. If no cracks are found during the initial inspection, a re-inspection must be carried out. If cracks are identified, the operators must perform the specified temporary repairs and adhere to the repetitive inspection schedule based on the crack length, as outlined in Table 1 of the AD (section 6). Furthermore, operators are required to replace the MLG bracket in accordance with Fokker SB F28/57-92 if necessary (section 7).
There are no specific penalties mentioned in the AD for failing to comply with the requirements. However, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives can lead to serious safety risks, potentially resulting in aircraft being grounded until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. In more severe cases, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action, including the imposition of fines or other regulatory measures. While the AD itself does not detail specific penalties, non-compliance with aviation safety regulations generally carries significant civil and criminal consequences, including potential prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (section 8).
In summary, AD/F28/81 Amendment 1 mandates detailed inspections and repairs of the MLG bracket in Fokker F28 series aeroplanes to mitigate the risk of stress corrosion cracks. Operators must adhere to the specified inspection and repair instructions, ensuring the aircraft remain airworthy. Failure to comply with these directives can result in significant safety risks and potential regulatory action by CASA.