Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, provide a comprehensive framework for regulating civil aviation in Australia. Part 39 of these regulations specifically addresses airworthiness directives, which are legally binding requirements imposed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft and their operations. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain the highest possible safety standards in civil aviation. One such Airworthiness Directive, AD/F50/80, issued on 23 March 2000 and effective from 23 September 2000, pertains to Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes and requires a one-time inspection and functional check of the flight crew's shoulder harness assemblies to address an unsafe condition identified in overseas reports. This directive was issued to correct a specific unsafe condition involving the shoulder harness mechanism and aims to prevent potential incidents related to the harness disengaging during flight.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument, F2006B09911, pertains to the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, and targets the Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directive AD/F50/80. The directive applies to all aircraft equipped with Pacific Scientific Model 0108900 series flight crew shoulder harness assemblies. The purpose of this directive is to address an unsafe condition identified in the shoulder harness systems of the mentioned aircraft. The requirement is for a one-time inspection and functional check of the shoulder harness in accordance with Fokker Services’ Service Bulletin F50-25-051. This action is deemed necessary to correct the identified condition where a pilot's shoulder harness pulled out of the inertia reel completely due to an incorrectly attached reel mechanism. The directive mandates compliance before 23 September 2000, and it becomes effective from 23 March 2000, ensuring the safety of flight crew during operations. This legislation is part of the broader regulatory framework managed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) focus on ensuring the safety of flight crew by mandating a specific inspection and functional check of the shoulder harness on Fokker F50 (F27 Mk 50) series aeroplanes. Specifically, section (a) of the requirement stipulates that the AD applies to all aircraft equipped with Pacific Scientific Model 0108900 series flight crew shoulder harness assemblies (section 3/2000). Section (b) directs that the action required involves performing a one-time inspection and functional check of the shoulder harness, following Fokker Services’ SB F50-25-051 instructions. Section (c) specifies that this compliance must be achieved before 23 September 2000, as indicated in the compliance section. The AD itself became effective on 23 March 2000. The obligations imposed by this Act are primarily on the operators and owners of Fokker F50 series aeroplanes. They are required to ensure that the specified shoulder harness assemblies undergo the prescribed inspection and functional check. This is to verify that the harnesses are correctly installed and operational, thereby preventing any unsafe conditions that might arise from an incorrectly attached reel mechanism. Additionally, the AD references RLD AD 1999-139 dated 29 October 1999, indicating that operators should be aware of and possibly coordinate with other related directives and safety bulletins. Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety implications, as the background suggests that an incorrectly attached reel mechanism has already led to a significant incident where a pilot's shoulder harness pulled out completely. The potential consequences of non-compliance could be severe, including the risk of injury or fatality in the event of an emergency where the shoulder harness is required. Although the specific legal penalties are not detailed within this AD, non-compliance with CASA directives typically leads to enforcement actions, which can include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the compliance is achieved.