AD/F50/8 - Passenger Entrance Door Coamings

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, were enacted to address the safety and operational standards within the aviation industry in Australia. One such regulation is found in Part 39, which includes Airworthiness Directives for specific aircraft models. The regulation in question, AD/F50/8, pertains to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) Series Aeroplanes and specifically targets the passenger entrance door coamings. The directive was introduced to mitigate the risk associated with the upper coaming panel above the passenger entrance door velcro attachment being insecure, which could potentially cause the coaming to drop and obstruct the door during an emergency disembarkation. The policy objective is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew by enforcing compliance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-005, with the directive applicable to aircraft with specific serial numbers. Compliance with this regulation was mandated prior to 30 June 1989.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the safety directives for aircraft within Australian jurisdiction. The regulation targets Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20108 and 20110 to 20117, mandating that they comply with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-005. This directive addresses the issue of the upper coaming panel above the passenger entrance door, which has been identified as potentially insecure, posing a risk of blocking the door during an emergency disembarkation. The regulation underscores the necessity for compliance prior to 30 June 1989, with reference to RLD AD 88-90, ensuring that these specific aircraft meet the required safety standards to mitigate any risks associated with the coaming's instability.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, include a directive (AD/F50/8) pertaining to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes (section 1). This directive applies to F27-050 serial numbers ranging from 20103 to 20108 and from 20110 to 20117 (section 2). The main requirement outlined in this directive is that the action must be taken in accordance with Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-005 (section 3). It is noted that RLD AD 88-90 is also relevant to this directive (section 4). The directive mandates that compliance with these measures must be achieved prior to 30 June 1989 (section 5). The directive imposes clear obligations on the operators of the affected Fokker F50 aircraft. These operators must ensure that the specified action is carried out as per Fokker Service Bulletin F50-25-005, which likely involves inspecting and securing the upper coaming panel above the passenger entrance door. Failure to adhere to this directive could result in compromised safety during emergency disembarkation, as the insecure coaming panel could potentially drop and obstruct the door, posing a risk to passengers and crew. In terms of consequences, while the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with this particular directive, the broader regulatory framework under which these regulations operate implies significant ramifications. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil and criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, as the safety and operation of aircraft are paramount concerns. The Civil Aviation Act 1988, which underpins the enforcement of these regulations, provides for penalties that can include substantial financial penalties and imprisonment for individuals found guilty of non-compliance with safety directives. Given the critical nature of the directive, which addresses a potentially life-threatening issue during emergency situations, the consequences for non-compliance are likely to be severe. The enforcement authorities, primarily the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), have the power to impose penalties that reflect the gravity of the safety issue at hand. The specific penalties may vary depending on the circumstances of the breach, but they are designed to ensure that all operators take the mandated actions to safeguard against the risks identified in the directive.