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 issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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 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/F28/84 Flight Crew Seat Shoulder Harness 3/2000
Applicability: All aircraft equipped with Pacific Scientific Model 0108900 series flight crew shoulder harness assemblies.
Requirement: Perform a one-time inspection and functional check of the shoulder harness in accordance with Fokker Services’ SB F28/25-103.
Note: RLD AD 1999-139 dated 29 October 1999 refers.
Compliance: Before 23 September 2000.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 March 2000.
Background: There is an overseas report that a pilot’s shoulder harness pulled out of the inertia reel completely due to an incorrectly attached reel mechanism.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 11 February 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 February 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, a cornerstone of Australian aviation law, were enacted to regulate the operation and maintenance of aircraft to ensure air safety. In addressing specific safety concerns, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), an agency under the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. These ADs are designed to mandate corrective actions to address identified safety issues in aircraft. For example, AD/F28/84 issued on 11 February 2000, pertains to Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes, specifically requiring a one-time inspection and functional check of the flight crew's shoulder harness assemblies to prevent incidents where the harness could detach due to an incorrectly attached reel mechanism. This directive was issued to rectify an unsafe condition reported overseas, thereby aiming to enhance the overall safety of civil aviation operations within Australia.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/F28/84 issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies specifically to all aircraft equipped with Pacific Scientific Model 0108900 series flight crew shoulder harness assemblies. This directive mandates a one-time inspection and functional check of the shoulder harness, in accordance with Fokker Services' Service Bulletin F28/25-103. This requirement arises from an overseas incident where a pilot's shoulder harness detached entirely from the inertia reel due to an incorrectly attached reel mechanism. The directive, issued by Eugene Paul Holzapfel as a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), became effective on 23 March 2000, with the compliance deadline set before 23 September 2000. The directive was subsequently notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 February 2000, extending its reach and applicability across the entire Commonwealth. This AD does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and any further elaboration or restrictions on its application would be addressed in subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes the AD/F28/84 for Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandates a one-time inspection and functional check of the flight crew shoulder harness assemblies (section 3). The AD applies to all aircraft equipped with Pacific Scientific Model 0108900 series flight crew shoulder harness assemblies (section 4). The inspection and functional check must be performed in accordance with Fokker Services' Service Bulletin F28/25-103 (section 5). The AD references an overseas incident where a pilot's shoulder harness detached due to an incorrectly attached reel mechanism (section 6). The directive was issued by Eugene Paul Holzapfel, a delegate of the CASA, and it became effective on 23 March 2000, with compliance required before 23 September 2000 (sections 7 and 9).
Under this AD, the primary obligation for the relevant parties is to conduct a thorough inspection and functional check of the flight crew shoulder harness assemblies as specified in the directive. This inspection must be carried out in line with the guidelines provided in Fokker Services' Service Bulletin F28/25-103. The aim of this is to ensure that the shoulder harness assemblies are correctly installed and functional, thereby preventing any potential safety hazards. The compliance date set for this inspection and check is before 23 September 2000, giving operators a period of approximately six months to implement the necessary checks and repairs.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive could have serious consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within the text of the AD itself, non-compliance with CASA directives generally can result in severe civil or criminal penalties. These could include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or even more severe enforcement actions if the non-compliance is found to contribute to an unsafe condition leading to an accident or incident. The exact penalties would be determined by CASA in the context of the particular breach and its impact on aviation safety.