AD/F50/68 - Lower Cowling By-Pass Duct Opening

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia, include specific provisions for the airworthiness of aircraft. Among these provisions is Part 39 - 105, which pertains to Airworthiness Directives, particularly for the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes. This regulation was introduced to address the issue of in-flight power fluctuations that had been experienced in this series of aircraft, particularly under certain weather conditions where ice could build up in the engine air intake, leading to engine power loss due to ice ingestion. The objective of this particular directive is to mandate a modification to the air outlet opening of the engine by-pass duct, in alignment with Fokker S.B. F50-71-041 dated 11 November 1993, and Dutch AD BLA 1995-065 (A) dated 30 June 1995, to mitigate the risk of ice ingestion into the engine, thereby enhancing flight safety. Compliance with this directive is required within three calendar months following the issue date of 12 October 1995, unless the modification has already been completed.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes. The focus of this particular legislation is on Airworthiness Directive AD/F50/68, which mandates a modification to the air outlet opening of the engine by-pass duct as per Fokker S.B. F50-71-041 dated 11 November 1993. This directive applies to the Fokker F27 Mk 50 series aircraft, specifically those with serial numbers listed in the requirement document. The purpose of this modification is to address in-flight power fluctuations that have occurred in these aircraft under certain weather conditions where ice can build up in the engine air intake, potentially leading to a loss of engine power due to ice ingestion. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be completed within three calendar months following 12 October 1995, unless the modification has already been accomplished. This regulation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia and applies to all Fokker F27 Mk 50 series aircraft operating within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The key provision of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, is the Airworthiness Directive AD/F50/68, which concerns the modification of the lower cowling by-pass duct opening for Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes (Section 11/95). This directive applies to Fokker Aircraft B.V. Model F.27 Mk.050 series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers as detailed in the requirement document (Applicability). The requirement is to modify the air outlet opening of the engine by-pass duct in accordance with Fokker S.B. F50-71-041 dated 10 November 1993 (Requirement). It is noted that Dutch AD BLA 1995-065 (A) dated 30 June 1995 also pertains to this issue (Note). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within three calendar months following 12 October 1995, unless the modification has already been completed (Compliance). The obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that the specified modifications to the engine by-pass duct are carried out within the stipulated timeframe. Owners and operators of the affected Fokker F50 series aeroplanes must verify that the modifications align with Fokker S.B. F50-71-041 and that any documentation is correctly maintained to demonstrate compliance. Furthermore, these entities must ensure that the aircraft is not operated until the modifications have been successfully implemented. Any non-compliance with this directive may lead to serious safety implications, particularly in terms of in-flight power fluctuations and potential engine failures due to ice ingestion. In terms of breaches and potential penalties, non-compliance with this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text, it is clear that failure to adhere to such critical safety directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential grounding of the affected aircraft until compliance is achieved. The seriousness of such directives underscores the importance of timely and effective compliance to ensure the safety of air travel.