AD/F50/56 Amdt 1 - Collector Tank Strap Assemblies and Fuel Lines

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39, specifically focusing on airworthiness directives, addresses safety issues related to aircraft maintenance and operations. The Schedule of Airworthiness Directives includes AD/F50/56 Amendment 1 concerning Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes, which applies to aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20133 to 20199. This amendment was introduced to address the issue of leaking fuel lines and the failure of collector tank support straps, which had been reported by the Netherlands Airworthiness Authority. The directive mandates compliance with the technical requirements of the Netherlands Directive BLA 92-099/2 (A) dated 31 August 1995, as referenced in Fokker Service Bulletins F50-28-014 and F50-28-018, to mitigate these safety risks. The policy objective is to ensure the airworthiness of the affected Fokker F50 aircraft by enforcing necessary maintenance actions and inspections.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the legislative instrument F2006B09884, specifically addresses airworthiness directives under Part 39-105. This regulation applies to Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 20133 to 20199 inclusive. The directive mandates actions in accordance with the technical requirements set forth in the Netherlands Directive BLA 92-099/2 (A) dated 31 August 1995, referencing Fokker Service Bulletins F50-28-014 and F50-28-018. Compliance with these directives is required unless the specified actions have already been implemented, with an effective date of 7 December 1995. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, as they are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive is triggered by reports of fuel line leaks and collector tank support strap failures, which impose abnormal loads on the fuel lines, thereby necessitating corrective measures to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of the specified aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, includes provisions regarding airworthiness directives for various aircraft types, including the Fokker F50 series aeroplanes. Section AD/F50/56 Amendment 1 pertains to the collector tank strap assemblies and fuel lines for Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20133 to 20199 inclusive. The directive requires compliance with the technical requirements outlined in the Netherlands Directive BLA 92-099/2 (A) dated 31 August 1995. This directive mandates actions that were referenced in Fokker Service Bulletins F50-28-014 and F50-28-018. Compliance with these directives must be achieved unless the actions were previously performed according to the requirement document, which was effective as of 7 December 1995. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this legislation include ensuring that all specified actions on the collector tank strap assemblies and fuel lines are carried out as per the technical requirements of the referenced Netherlands Directive. Operators of Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft within the specified serial number range must adhere to these directives to maintain airworthiness standards. The compliance requirement necessitates that any actions mandated by the directive must be completed unless already performed in accordance with the documented requirements. Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in this directive may result in significant consequences. While the specific legal penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is implicit that non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. These actions can include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are completed. The seriousness of such consequences underscores the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure safety and regulatory compliance in civil aviation operations.