COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes
AD/HS 125/51
Amdt 3
Nose Landing Gear Drag Stay Bridge Casting 3/95
Applicability: All BAe 125 series aircraft pre mod 253003A and spare P/N 25UN49A and 25UN49AD bridge casting assemblies.
Requirement: 1. Eddy current inspect P/N 25UN49A and 25UN49AD bridge casting assemblies in accordance with BAe SB 32-184 Revision 5.
2. Blend P/N 25UN49A bridge casting assemblies in accordance with BAe Service Bulletin (SB) 32-184 Revision 5.
Compliance: 1. Initially inspect and blend installed components in accordance with Requirements 1 and 2 at the next Service A check after 2000 landings or at the next Service A check after 30 March 1995, whichever occurs later.
2. Inspect and blend spare components in accordance with Requirements 1 and 2 before installation on an aircraft or before 30 March 1996, whichever occurs first.
3. Re-inspect installed components in accordance with Requirement 1 at intervals not to exceed 900 hours time in service or 2 years, whichever occurs first.
Note: Components inspected by previous Amendments of this Airworthiness Directive need not be eddy current inspected until the repeat inspection is due.
Background: Several cases have occurred of cracking of the bridge casting at the radius of the cut out for the drag stay upper arm. This amendment deletes the penetrant inspection and introduces the more effective eddy current inspection method. The initial inspection for spare components is clarified.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, form a comprehensive framework governing various aspects of civil aviation, including safety directives. One such directive, AD/HS 125/51 Amendment 3, pertains specifically to the British Aerospace BAe 125 series aeroplanes and addresses the issue of nose landing gear drag stay bridge casting failures. This legislation aims to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft by mandating specific inspections and repairs to prevent structural failures that could compromise safety. The objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of bridge casting cracking, which had previously been identified in several instances, by introducing more effective eddy current inspection methods and clarifying the inspection protocols for spare components. This measure is designed to enhance the safety and reliability of BAe 125 series aircraft in operation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all British Aerospace BAe 125 series aircraft pre-modification 253003A and spare parts identified as P/N 25UN49A and 25UN49AD bridge casting assemblies. This regulation is intended to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft by addressing the known issue of cracking at the radius of the cut out for the drag stay upper arm on the nose landing gear. The regulation mandates specific inspection and blending procedures for these components to mitigate the risk of structural failure. The inspection and blending must be performed in accordance with BAe SB 32-184 Revision 5, with installed components requiring inspection and blending at the next Service A check following either 2000 landings or 30 March 1995, whichever is later. Spare components must be inspected and blended before installation on an aircraft or before 30 March 1996, whichever is sooner. Re-inspection of installed components is required at intervals not exceeding 900 hours of flight time or 2 years, whichever comes first. Components that have already been inspected under previous amendments do not need to be eddy current inspected until their repeat inspection is due. This directive extends throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a consistent approach to the maintenance and safety standards of BAe 125 series aircraft across the nation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, provide detailed directives on the airworthiness of British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes, particularly addressing the nose landing gear drag stay bridge casting. Section 1 of this amendment (AD/HS 125/51 Amdt 3) mandates that all BAe 125 series aircraft pre-modification 253003A and spare parts P/N 25UN49A and 25UN49AD bridge casting assemblies undergo eddy current inspection in accordance with BAe SB 32-184 Revision 5. Furthermore, it requires that P/N 25UN49A bridge casting assemblies be blended in accordance with the same Service Bulletin (SB) 32-184 Revision 5.
These provisions impose specific obligations on the operators of BAe 125 series aircraft. Operators must ensure that installed components are inspected and blended during the next Service A check following 2000 landings or by 30 March 1995, whichever is later. Additionally, any spare components must be inspected and blended before installation on an aircraft or before 30 March 1996, whichever occurs first. Operators are also required to re-inspect the installed components at intervals not exceeding 900 hours of time in service or 2 years, whichever comes first. Components previously inspected under earlier amendments do not need to be re-inspected by eddy current methods until the next scheduled inspection.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives may result in serious safety implications. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly detail the penalties for non-compliance in this specific context, but general aviation regulations often entail significant civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to aircraft being grounded, resulting in substantial operational disruptions and financial losses. Furthermore, serious non-compliance could potentially attract criminal charges, with penalties including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and impact of the breach.