Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 – 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, was enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australian airspace. This legislative instrument aims to address safety concerns by providing specific directives to mitigate identified risks, thereby maintaining a high standard of aviation safety. In this instance, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/F28/86, which applies to Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes, mandating a particular inspection to address a safety issue identified in the fuselage butt joint at stringers 27/48. This measure was introduced to prevent the development of potentially dangerous cracks in the fuselage skin, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The directive requires an inspection before the aircraft accumulates 30,000 total flight cycles since new, or within 12 months from 22 February 2001, whichever is later, to ensure compliance with safety standards and protect the travelling public.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, encompasses a range of regulations designed to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australia. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) addressed in this legislative instrument is targeted at Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes, applicable to all models from Mk. 1000 through 4000 series across all serial numbers. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates a specific inspection procedure to be undertaken to rectify an identified unsafe condition related to the fuselage butt joint at stringers 27/48. The directive requires the inspection to be performed in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F28/53-148, referencing RLD AD 2000-151, and must be completed either before the aircraft accumulates 30,000 total flight cycles since new or within 12 months after 22 February 2001, whichever is later. This directive is effective from 22 February 2001 and is aimed at mitigating the risk of a specific type of crack in the fuselage skin, which has been traced back to a scratch possibly present from production at the edge of a bonded lower skin.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 – 105, introduces an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/F28/86, which pertains to the fuselage butt joint at stringers 27/48. This AD is issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of CAR 1998 and mandates an inspection of the fuselage skin in the area between STA.9805 and STA.10305 on the right side of the aircraft. This inspection must be conducted in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F28/53-148, and it references RLD AD 2000-151. The purpose of this directive is to address a potential unsafe condition identified in the fuselage skin, which could lead to cracks at the bonded doubler at stringer 48, potentially caused by a scratch present from production at the edge of the bonded lower skin. The AD applies to all Fokker F28 Mk. 1000 through 4000 series aircraft, regardless of serial number. Operators of these aircraft must comply with the directive by conducting the specified inspection before the aircraft accumulates 30,000 total flight cycles since new, or within 12 months after 22 February 2001, whichever occurs later. This directive became effective on 22 February 2001, as stated in the compliance section, and its requirements must be adhered to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are clear and specific. Aircraft operators must ensure that the mandated inspection is performed by qualified personnel following the detailed instructions provided in Fokker Service Bulletin F28/53-148. This requirement aims to identify any potential cracks or other defects in the specified fuselage area, thereby preventing any unsafe conditions that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. Failure to comply with this directive could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to grounding and potential legal consequences. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant civil and criminal consequences. Operators found to be in breach of the AD may face penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed within the text of the AD itself but generally could include fines and other enforcement actions. It is important for operators to ensure strict compliance with the directive to avoid any potential legal repercussions and to maintain the safety and airworthiness of their aircraft.