AD/F50/46 - Forward Fuselage Skin Dimples

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, addresses the critical issue of ensuring the airworthiness of specific Fokker F50 aircraft models through Airworthiness Directives (AD). Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations aim to safeguard the integrity and safety of aircraft in Australian airspace, aligning with international safety standards. The specific AD/F50/46 directive for the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes was introduced to tackle the problem of cracks in the forward fuselage skin, identified during full-scale fatigue testing. The policy objective of these regulations is to enhance the structural integrity of the aircraft, thereby preventing potential in-flight failures and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. This legislative instrument mandates actions in accordance with the Technical Requirements of RLD AD 89-15-2, dated 15 December 1989, as referenced in Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-018, dated 8 December 1989. The requirement necessitates the installation of reinforcement angles before the aircraft exceed 10,000 pressurisation cycles, thus extending the fatigue life of the skin-to-stringer and skin-to-frame connectors. Through these measures, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 strive to uphold the highest safety standards in civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20108 inclusive, 20110 to 20149 inclusive, and 20151 and 20152. This legislative instrument mandates that these aircraft must comply with Airworthiness Directive AD/F50/46 concerning the forward fuselage skin dimples, ensuring actions are taken in accordance with the Technical Requirements of RLD AD 89-15-2 dated 15 December 1989, as referenced in Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-018 dated 8 December 1989. The requirement is to implement the necessary reinforcement before the aircraft exceeds 10,000 pressurisation cycles to address the identified fatigue issues that originated from rivet hole dimples in the forward fuselage skin. This directive is applicable under the Commonwealth of Australia and extends to ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the specified Fokker F50 aeroplanes within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/F50/46, pertains to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes, addressing the issue of forward fuselage skin dimples (section 1). This directive applies to aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20108, 20110 to 20149, and 20151 and 20152. The directive mandates that the action required aligns with the Technical Requirements of RLD AD 89-15-2, dated 15 December 1989, and references Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-018, dated 8 December 1989 (section 2). Compliance with this directive is crucial and must be achieved before the aeroplane exceeds 10,000 pressurisation cycles (section 3). Entities governed by this directive, particularly those operating Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes within the specified serial number range, must adhere to the prescribed technical requirements. These obligations include ensuring that any reinforcement angles are installed to improve the fatigue life of the skin-to-stringer and skin-to-frame connectors, as per the detailed instructions in RLD AD 89-15-2 and Fokker Service Bulletin F50-53-018 (section 4). This involves rigorous inspection and maintenance protocols to identify and address any potential issues with the forward fuselage skin dimples before the aeroplane reaches the critical 10,000 pressurisation cycles (section 5). Failure to comply with AD/F50/46 may result in significant legal and safety consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed within this particular directive, breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to severe civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines and enforcement actions by CASA, while criminal penalties may involve imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of non-compliance with airworthiness directives (section 6). The potential for significant fines and other enforcement actions underscores the importance of strict adherence to the directive to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes.