COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes
AD/F50/28 Stringer 18 Between Stations 4875 and 5325 13/89
Applicability: F27 Mark 50 aircraft serial numbers 20103 through 20108 and 20110 through 20123. Requirement: Action in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-017, dated 30 June 1989.
Note: RLD BLA 89-077 dated 12 July 1989 refers.
Compliance: Prior to accumulating 10000 flights.
Background: During full-scale fatigue testing, cracks were found in the skin, near the intercostal of the toilet wash-water tank. These cracks were found to initiate at the dimpled rivet holes in the skin-to-stringer connection. To improve the fatigue life of this connection, inspection and reinforcement of the affected skin is required.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, form a comprehensive regulatory framework governing civil aviation in the country. This legislative instrument includes specific directives to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/F50/28, pertains to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes and mandates specific actions to address identified structural issues. This directive was introduced to address a critical safety issue identified during fatigue testing of certain Fokker F50 aircraft models, where cracks were discovered in the skin near the intercostal of the toilet wash-water tank. These cracks were traced to the dimpled rivet holes in the skin-to-stringer connection, prompting the requirement for inspection and reinforcement of the affected areas to ensure the aircraft's continued safe operation. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate potential structural failures and enhance the overall safety standards of the specified Fokker F50 aircraft fleet.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the broader framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia, include specific directives that mandate adherence to particular safety standards for aircraft. One such directive, AD/F50/28, pertains to Fokker F50 (F27 Mark 50) series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 20103 through 20108 and 20110 through 20123. This directive requires actions in line with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-017, dated 30 June 1989, which addresses the need for inspection and reinforcement of the skin near the intercostal of the toilet wash-water tank. This requirement arises from fatigue testing that identified cracks initiating at the dimpled rivet holes in the skin-to-stringer connection, necessitating preventive measures to enhance the fatigue life of these critical components. Compliance with this directive must be achieved before the aircraft accumulates 10,000 flights, underscoring the importance of timely and thorough inspections to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft within the Australian aviation sector.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, with a focus on the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes, detailed in AD/F50/28 (section 1). This regulation mandates specific actions regarding the aircraft's stringer 18 between stations 4875 and 5325, particularly for F27 Mark 50 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20103 through 20108 and 20110 through 20123. The directive requires compliance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-017, dated 30 June 1989, and references RLD BLA 89-077 dated 12 July 1989 for further details. The requirement is to undertake necessary inspections and reinforcements of the skin near the intercostal of the toilet wash-water tank, focusing on the connection between the skin and stringer. This action is crucial to address the fatigue-related cracks found during testing, which were observed to initiate at the dimpled rivet holes in the aforementioned connection.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the entities it governs include ensuring that the specified Fokker F50 aircraft undergo the required inspections and reinforcement actions as per the mentioned service bulletin and regulatory notice. Operators of these aircraft must implement these measures before the aircraft accumulates 10,000 flights. This requirement is intended to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft by preventing the propagation of fatigue cracks that could compromise the structural integrity of the stringer and skin connection. Compliance with this directive is essential for the continued safe operation of the affected Fokker F50 aircraft within the Australian civil aviation sector.
Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in AD/F50/28 can result in significant civil and criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Potential penalties for breaching these regulations include fines, suspension, or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. Additionally, operators may face criminal charges if their failure to comply results in a safety incident or accident. The maximum penalties for such offences can vary, but they may include substantial fines for corporations and imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight of the aircraft maintenance. These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to the specified airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and compliance of civil aviation operations within Australia.