Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Australian Parliament, provide comprehensive rules for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One specific instance of these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive AD/F28/87 issued in 2001 for Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address reports of heat damage on the fuselage skin panels in the stub wing areas, which could potentially compromise the structural integrity of these aircraft. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of affected aircraft by mandating regular inspections and repairs of the identified structural issues. This directive highlights the CASA's commitment to maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation through proactive regulatory measures.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to all Fokker F28 series aeroplanes, from the Mk. 1000 through to the Mk. 4000, requiring the internal fuselage structure in the Stub Wing areas to undergo regular visual inspections. This directive was issued to address concerns about heat damage, identified through discolouration of the primer paint, which has been linked to leakage from bleed air ducts. The directive mandates that any discovered damage must be repaired or the affected parts replaced within specific limits, as outlined in Fokker Service Bulletin F.28/53-151, dated 4 June 2001, and subsequent maintenance documentation updates. Importantly, this directive does not terminate the need for repetitive inspections even after repairs. The directive stipulates that these inspections must be conducted within 6,000 flight cycles after 20 August 2001, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 6,000 flight cycles, ensuring ongoing safety and structural integrity of the aircraft involved. This AD became effective on 1 November 2001 and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 10 October 2001.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 (subsection 39.1(1)), mandates an Airworthiness Directive (AD) aimed at ensuring the safety of Fokker F28 Series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/F28/87 pertains to the inspection, repair, and replacement of the internal fuselage structure in the Stub Wing areas of all Fokker F28 Mark 1000 through 4000 series aircraft. This directive was issued due to reports of heat damage in the stub wing areas, which were evidenced by discoloration of the yellow primer paint on the inside of the fuselage. The directive requires that inspections be conducted in accordance with Part 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin F.28/53-151, dated 4 June 2001, and any damaged parts must be repaired or replaced as per Part 2 of the same instructions. This process does not eliminate the need for further inspections, which must continue at regular intervals. Entities and parties governed by this AD are required to visually inspect the internal fuselage structure in the Stub Wing areas of Fokker F28 Series aircraft. This inspection must be carried out following the detailed instructions provided in Fokker Service Bulletin F.28/53-151, ensuring that any detected damage is repaired or replaced within the specified limits. The inspection must be completed within 6,000 flight cycles after 20 August 2001 and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 6,000 flight cycles thereafter. This requirement is designed to prevent the undetected deterioration of the structural integrity of the Stub Wing assembly, which could pose significant safety risks. Failure to comply with this AD may result in serious safety implications. The AD mandates specific actions to address identified issues in the Stub Wing areas of Fokker F28 Series aircraft. If an entity or individual fails to adhere to the inspection and repair requirements outlined in the AD, they may be subject to civil or criminal penalties. The exact penalties are not detailed in the AD itself but would typically involve fines and potential grounding of non-compliant aircraft until the required actions are taken. Ensuring compliance is crucial to maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.