AD/HS 125/73 Amdt 1 - Fouling of Pipe Installations

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address various aspects of civil aviation safety, including the maintenance and operation of aircraft. One specific legislative instrument, AD/HS 125/73 Amendment 1, was introduced to address the issue of potential fouling between fuel, oxygen, and hydraulic pipes in British Aerospace BAe 125 Series 800 aeroplanes fitted with ventral tanks. The problem identified is the risk of fouling, which could lead to hazardous conditions. This particular directive mandates inspections of the area above the left-hand upper forward corner of the ventral fuel tank for signs of such fouling, as per British Aerospace 125 Series Service Bulletin 53-60 dated 8 November 1985. The policy objective is to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft by mitigating the risks associated with pipe fouling, thereby maintaining high safety standards in Australian civil aviation. This amendment, which references a UK airworthiness directive and service bulletin, was reissued on 23 April 1998 following the return of a BAe 125 Series 800 aeroplane to the Australian register.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, establish a regulatory framework that applies to all persons, entities, and aircraft operating within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations mandate compliance with airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring the safety of civil aviation. The scope of the airworthiness directive AD/HS 125/73 Amendment 1 pertains to all British Aerospace BAe 125 Series 800 aeroplanes fitted with ventral tanks. The directive requires operators to inspect the area above the left-hand upper forward corner of the ventral fuel tank for signs of fouling between fuel, oxygen, and hydraulic pipes. This inspection must be carried out in accordance with British Aerospace 125 Series Service Bulletin 53-60 dated 8 November 1985. The directive mandates that the inspection must be completed before further flight after 31 January 1986, and it became effective on 23 April 1998. The legislation references the CAA(UK) AD 006-11-85, further guiding the compliance requirements. The directive is reissued with minor amendments and remains unchanged in its core requirement, ensuring continued safety standards are met within Australian civil aviation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (part 39 - 105) include specific airworthiness directives aimed at ensuring the safety of aircraft operations. In this context, AD/HS 125/73 Amendment 1 addresses the fouling of pipe installations in British Aerospace BAe 125 Series 800 aeroplanes fitted with ventral tanks (section 1). This directive requires operators to inspect the area above the left-hand upper forward corner of the ventral fuel tank for signs of fouling between fuel, oxygen, and hydraulic pipes, as per British Aerospace 125 Series Service Bulletin 53-60 dated 8 November 1985 (section 2). The directive mandates that this inspection must be completed if it has not been performed previously. The obligation for compliance with this airworthiness directive falls on the aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. They must ensure that the specified inspection is carried out before further flight after the effective date of 31 January 1986 (section 3). This requirement is unchanged since its original issue and has been reissued with minor additions to reference the CAA(UK) airworthiness directive and identify the relevant service bulletin. The amendment became effective on 23 April 1998 (section 4). Failure to comply with this directive could result in a hazardous condition developing, potentially compromising the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant consequences. Operators found to be in breach of these provisions may face civil penalties, including fines and sanctions that can impact their ability to operate aircraft in Australia (section 5). The potential penalties can be severe, reflecting the importance of adhering to safety standards set forth in these regulations. Operators must be diligent in ensuring all airworthiness directives are followed to avoid these adverse outcomes and maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.