AD/HS 125/56 - Aileron, Rudder & Elevator Trim Jack Input Gear Shafts - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B10495, introduce specific Airworthiness Directives aimed at ensuring the safety of British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to address the problem of in-service failures of trim jack input gear shafts, which could potentially compromise the aircraft's control surfaces. The Australian Parliament introduced these regulations under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with the clear policy objective of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be achieved during the next removal of the control surfaces, as detailed in British Aerospace HS 125 Service Bulletin No. 27-130, Revision 1.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, as part of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to all British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes, specifically those up to and including series 700. This directive is necessitated by the documented occurrence of a failure in the trim jack input gear shaft while in service, as evidenced by British Aerospace HS 125 Service Bulletin No. 27-130, Revision 1. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring inspection at the next removal of the control surfaces. The directive applies nationally, within Australia's jurisdiction, ensuring that all relevant aircraft operators and maintenance personnel adhere to the specified safety measures. The directive does not explicitly mention exclusions or thresholds, and it is understood that its application extends through subordinate instruments as necessary to ensure compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, specify detailed airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the British Aerospace BAe 125 series. In this context, AD/HS 125/56 (Section 1) is an airworthiness directive that mandates inspection and potential replacement of aileron, rudder, and elevator trim jack input gear shafts for all HS/DH/BH125 aircraft, from series 1 up to and including series 700 (Section 2). This directive applies to aircraft currently in service and requires compliance with the specifications detailed in British Aerospace HS 125 Service Bulletin No. 27-130, Rev. 1 (Section 3). The directive arises from documented service failures of these components (Section 4). The primary obligation imposed by this directive is the requirement for aircraft operators to conduct an inspection of the specified input gear shafts at the next scheduled removal of the control surfaces (Section 5). This inspection is critical to ensure that the components are in good working condition and to prevent potential failures that could compromise the safety of the aircraft. Operators must adhere to the detailed procedures outlined in the referenced service bulletin to ensure compliance (Section 6). Failure to comply with this airworthiness directive can lead to serious consequences. If an aircraft is found to be non-compliant, it may be deemed unairworthy, leading to grounding until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed (Section 7). Additionally, operators who neglect to adhere to the directive may face legal repercussions. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to impose fines and other penalties on non-compliant operators (Section 8). While the exact penalties are not specified in the directive, they can include substantial financial penalties and potential legal action against the operators or individuals responsible for ensuring compliance (Section 9).