AD/F50/64 - Seat Rails Tapered Shims

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were introduced to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, was established to address issues related to aircraft safety and airworthiness. One such directive is AD/F50/64, which pertains to the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes, aiming to mitigate potential safety risks associated with the ageing of tapered nylon shims installed under the seat rails of affected aircraft. The policy objective behind this directive is to ensure that the aircraft maintain the required safety standards and prevent any degradation in the strength of the seat rail attachments, ultimately safeguarding the wellbeing of passengers and crew. The specific directive AD/F50/64 requires the removal of the tapered nylon shims installed under the seat rails from fuselage STA.14025 aft in Model F27 Mk 050 Series aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20258. The directive mandates that the current seat rail attachment bolts be replaced with shorter ones in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-045. Compliance with this directive was required prior to 1 November 1994. This directive was introduced to address a potential reduction in the strength of the seat rail attachments due to the ageing of the tapered nylon shims, as referenced in RLD AD 94-033 (A).

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, outlines the requirements for airworthiness directives, including AD/F50/64 concerning Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all F27 Mk 050 Series aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20103 through 20258. The directive mandates actions in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-045, which references RLD AD 94-033 (A), and requires compliance by 1 November 1994. The directive addresses the potential reduction in strength of seat rail attachments due to the ageing of tapered nylon shims installed under the seat rails from fuselage STA.14025 aft. The requirement involves removing the shims and replacing the current seat rail attachment bolts with shorter ones to ensure continued safety and airworthiness. The scope of this regulation is limited to the specified Fokker F50 Series aircraft, and it does not extend to other models or types of aircraft. The application is enforced within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to national civil aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contain specific requirements for the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/F50/64. This directive (AD) pertains to the seat rails tapered shims for aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20258. The directive mandates compliance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-045 and references RLD AD 94-033 (A) for further details. The primary requirement is the action to be taken due to the ageing of the tapered nylon shims installed under the seat rails from fuselage STA.14025 aft, which could lead to a reduction in the strength of the seat rail attachments. Specifically, the directive requires the removal of these shims and the replacement of the existing seat rail attachment bolts with shorter ones. The obligations imposed by this directive on the relevant parties or entities include ensuring that the modifications to the seat rails are completed according to the specified service bulletin and directive. Compliance must be achieved prior to 1 November 1994, as mandated by the directive. This means that any operator or owner of a Fokker F50 within the specified serial number range must take the necessary steps to address the potential issue with the seat rail attachments to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in AD/F50/64 could lead to serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally results in severe civil or criminal penalties under Australian aviation law. Such penalties could include fines, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, or even grounding of the aircraft. The potential for severe repercussions underscores the importance of adhering to the directive to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected Fokker F50 aircraft.