AD/F50/61 - Aileron Trim Screwjack Capscrews

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safety and compliance of civil aviation operations within Australia. This legislation, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to address issues such as the safety of aircraft components through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/F50/61, pertains to the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes and focuses on the aileron trim screwjack capscrews. The directive was introduced to address the problem of capscrew failures detected during inspections, which could lead to uncontrolled movement of the trim/balance tab and potential flutter. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating specific technical actions in accordance with RLD AD 93-066 (A), ensuring that all affected Fokker F50 aircraft are compliant with the specified requirements.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, applies to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes that are equipped with Morse Controls Ltd. Aileron Trim Screwjacks, P/N 189255, with serial numbers ranging from 53/88 through 112/90. The legislation mandates compliance with the technical requirements outlined in RLD AD 93-066 (A), ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft. The requirement is to address the identified issue of failed capscrews, which have been linked to incorrect treatment, potentially leading to uncontrolled movement of the trim/balance tab and flutter. Compliance with the directive is to be achieved as specified in the Requirement Document, which references Fokker SB F50-27-038 and Morse Controls Ltd SB 27-10-189255-A Issue 1. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it pertains to civil aviation within Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in this specific directive, and the scope is strictly defined by the model, serial numbers, and components mentioned. Any extension or restriction of the application of this directive would typically be managed through subordinate instruments or further notices issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for certain aircraft models, including Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/F50/61, pertains to aileron trim screwjack capscrews. According to this directive (section 1), the requirement applies to Fokker F27 Mk 050 models with all serial numbers, provided they are equipped with specific Morse Controls Ltd aileron trim screwjacks (section 2). The directive mandates compliance with technical requirements outlined in RLD AD 93-066 (A) (section 3). The directive imposes specific obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. Firstly, they must ensure that the aileron trim screwjack capscrews are in line with the technical specifications provided in the directive. This involves actions such as inspecting the capscrews for any signs of failure, as required by the directive (section 4). Operators and maintenance personnel must also refer to Fokker SB F50-27-038 and Morse Controls Ltd SB 27-10-189255-A Issue 1 for detailed guidance on the corrective actions (section 5). Ensuring compliance involves adhering to the specified requirements in the directive and any additional documentation provided by the manufacturers. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/F50/61 could lead to serious safety implications. The directive notes that undetected failures of these capscrews could result in uncontrolled movement of the trim/balance tab, potentially leading to flutter, which is a hazardous condition (section 6). Consequently, non-compliance could result in severe penalties, including potential grounding of the aircraft until the issues are rectified (section 7). While the exact penalties are not specified in the directive, it is clear that failure to adhere to these safety requirements could result in both civil and criminal consequences, including fines and other legal actions by CASA.