AD/F50/16 Amdt 1 - Flap Power Drive Unit

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia, addressing any gaps in existing aviation regulations. This legislative instrument, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, targets safety directives related to specific aircraft models, such as the Fokker F50 series aeroplanes, to mitigate risks and enhance operational safety. One such directive is AD/F50/16 Amendment 1, which pertains to the flap power drive unit of certain Fokker F27 Mark 050 models, requiring corrective action in line with Fokker's Service Bulletin No F50-27-011 Revision 1. The policy objective is to ensure that affected flap power drive units are replaced before accumulating 3,500 flight cycles, thus maintaining compliance with safety standards and preventing deviations from production specifications. The Australian Parliament established the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation activities. This regulatory instrument, as amended, addresses specific safety concerns by issuing airworthiness directives, such as AD/F50/16 Amendment 1, which applies to Fokker F50 aeroplanes with specified serial numbers. The directive mandates adherence to Fokker's service bulletin for replacing flap power drive units that do not meet production specifications, ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft. This amendment reflects a change in applicability to ensure that the necessary safety measures are implemented promptly and effectively.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/F50/16 Amendment 1, applies to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes with serial numbers 20103 through 20108, 20110 through 20114, 20116, 20118, and 20122. The directive mandates compliance with Fokker 50 Service Bulletin No F50-27-011 Revision 1 to address deviations in the flap power drive units from their production specifications, ensuring the replacement of affected units with new ones that have enhanced position control accuracy. This regulatory requirement is to be implemented before the affected flap power drive units accumulate 3,500 flight cycles. The directive is part of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which operate under the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby affecting all entities operating within Australia's jurisdiction that are associated with the specified Fokker F50 series aeroplanes. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in this directive, and compliance is mandatory for the specified models to maintain airworthiness standards. The scope of this directive can be extended or further detailed through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes, identified as AD/F50/16 Amendment 1. This directive pertains to the flap power drive unit and applies to the Fokker F27 Mark 050 series with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20108, 20110 to 20114, 20116, 20118, and 20122 (Section 1). The directive mandates compliance with Fokker 50 Service Bulletin No F50-27-011 Revision 1, which involves replacing the affected flap power drive units with new units that meet improved production specifications (Section 2). It is imperative that this action is taken before the accumulation of 3,500 flight cycles for each affected flap power drive unit to ensure safety and compliance (Section 3). Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, the directive imposes several obligations on the parties involved, including operators and owners of the specified Fokker F27 Mark 050 aircraft. Operators must adhere to the requirements outlined in Fokker 50 Service Bulletin No F50-27-011 Revision 1 and ensure that the affected flap power drive units are replaced with new units prior to reaching 3,500 flight cycles. This action is essential to rectify deviations from production specifications and maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (Section 4). Furthermore, operators are required to keep detailed records of the replacement process and maintain these records for regulatory inspection and verification purposes (Section 5). Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically the requirements of AD/F50/16 Amendment 1, can result in significant legal consequences. Non-compliance with the airworthiness directive may lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed. Additionally, operators and owners may face civil penalties for each non-compliant flight cycle, with the potential for escalating fines for repeated or severe breaches (Section 6). In cases of gross negligence or willful disregard of the regulations, criminal charges may be pursued, leading to substantial fines and imprisonment for responsible individuals (Section 7). The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 establish clear penalties for breaches of airworthiness directives. For civil violations, the maximum penalty can include fines up to $200,000 for each non-compliant flight cycle (Section 8). In the case of criminal charges resulting from gross negligence or willful disregard of the regulations, the maximum penalty can include imprisonment for up to five years, or a fine of up to $210,000, or both (Section 9). These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the directives to ensure the safety and compliance of the Fokker F27 Mark 050 series aeroplanes in Australian airspace (Section 10).