AD/HS 125/66 - Main Landing Gear Wheels - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, was enacted to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the maintenance, operation, and safety standards of civil aircraft in Australia. The enactment of this regulation by the Commonwealth of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aimed to address safety concerns and ensure the highest standards of airworthiness and operational safety for all aircraft within Australian airspace. One particular directive, AD/HS 125/66, pertains to the inspection of main landing gear wheels of British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes, addressing the problem of main wheel flange fractures that had previously caused structural damage. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate such risks by mandating a thorough inspection process to be completed before a specified deadline, thus enhancing overall aviation safety. The directive requires adherence to British Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 32-201, which includes precise specifications for conducting eddy current scans on the main landing gear wheels, ensuring the scan index is accurately maintained as per the detailed pattern outlined in Appendix A. This directive underscores CASA's commitment to proactively managing potential safety hazards through stringent regulatory measures, thereby safeguarding the integrity and reliability of civil aviation operations in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to Airworthiness Directives, applies to all models of the British Aerospace BAe 125 Series aeroplanes, up to and including Series 700. This regulation mandates compliance with British Aerospace 125 Service Bulletin No. 32-201, which details the inspection requirements for main landing gear wheels to prevent occurrences of wheel flange fractures and subsequent structural damage. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of these regulations is governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby applying nationally. These regulations do not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, implying that all specified aircraft within the defined scope must adhere to the stipulated inspection procedures. The application of these directives may be further detailed or modified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation, specifically AD/HS 125/66, mandate that all British Aerospace BAe 125 Series aircraft up to and including Series 700 undergo a thorough inspection of their main landing gear wheels (section 1). This requirement is to ensure safety and address the issue of main wheel flange fractures that have caused structural damage (section 1). The inspection must follow the specific guidance detailed in British Aerospace 125 SB No. 32-201, including the use of an eddy current scan pattern as illustrated in Fig. 1 of Appendix A of the Requirement Document (section 1). The inspection must be completed prior to 31 August 1984 (section 1). The obligations imposed by the Act on the relevant parties include ensuring that the inspection of the main landing gear wheels is carried out meticulously. This involves using the specified eddy current scan pattern and ensuring that the probe is jigged to maintain an accurate scan index (section 1). The operators and maintainers of the aircraft must follow the detailed procedures outlined in the British Aerospace 125 SB No. 32-201 to achieve compliance (section 1). Compliance with these directives is critical to preventing the recurrence of main wheel flange fractures that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft (section 1). Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives set out in AD/HS 125/66 could result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence (section 2). The penalties for such an offence may include substantial fines and potential criminal charges, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety (section 2). The exact penalties are not specified in the text but could be determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority based on the nature and extent of the violation (section 2).