AD/HS 125/76 - APU Bonding

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Legislation au F2006B10517 In force Legislative Instrument

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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 125/76 APU Bonding 4/86

Applicability: All DH/HS/BH/B.Ae.125 series aircraft up to and including aircraft 258034 fitted with an Auxiliary Power Unit to Mod. 251605 or 258748.

 

Requirement: Action in accordance with British Aerospace SB 49-32-(9210A).

 

Note: The British CAA have classified this Service Bulletin as mandatory.

 

Compliance: Before 31 December 1986.

 

Background:  To protect the A.P.U. system against a possible starter/generator live casing condition, and potential fire hazard.

 

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australian airspace. Within this regulatory framework, Part 39 includes the Airworthiness Directives, which are legally enforceable requirements aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/HS 125/76, was introduced to address a specific safety concern identified with British Aerospace BAe 125 Series aeroplanes. The problem this directive was introduced to address is the potential for a starter/generator live casing condition, which could lead to a fire hazard in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) system of affected aircraft. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate the action required to mitigate this risk, ensuring the safety of all personnel and passengers onboard. The directive mandates compliance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 49-32-(9210A) and stipulates that all DH/HS/BH/B.Ae.125 series aircraft up to and including aircraft 258034 fitted with an APU to Mod. 251605 or 258748 must adhere to this requirement. The British Civil Aviation Authority has classified this Service Bulletin as mandatory, underscoring the importance of the directive in maintaining aviation safety standards. Compliance with AD/HS 125/76 is required before 31 December 1986, reflecting the urgency and significance of the safety measures being implemented.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/HS 125/76 concerning British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes, applies to all DH/HS/BH/B.Ae.125 series aircraft up to and including aircraft number 258034 that are fitted with an Auxiliary Power Unit to modifications 251605 or 258748. This regulation is a Commonwealth requirement under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, and pertains to the aviation industry, particularly those operating these types of aircraft. The directive mandates compliance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 49-32-(9210A), which the British Civil Aviation Authority has classified as mandatory. The primary purpose of this directive is to safeguard the A.P.U. system against potential fire hazards arising from a possible starter/generator live casing condition. Compliance with this directive must be achieved before 31 December 1986. The geographic reach of this regulation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying to all relevant aircraft within its jurisdiction. The application is not limited by state or territory boundaries but encompasses the entire national airspace. The regulation does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the provided text, and its application can potentially be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as deemed necessary by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes. Under this regulation, section AD/HS 125/76 addresses the requirement for APU bonding in certain BAe 125 series aircraft (section 1). This directive applies to all DH/HS/BH/B.Ae.125 series aircraft up to and including aircraft number 258034 that are equipped with an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of models 251605 or 258748 (section 2). The requirement is that these aircraft must be modified in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 49-32-(9210A) (section 3). It is noted that the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has classified this Service Bulletin as mandatory, indicating the importance of adhering to these directives (section 4). These regulations impose specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the required modifications are carried out as per the Service Bulletin 49-32-(9210A) before the specified deadline of 31 December 1986 (section 5). The modifications are aimed at protecting the APU system against a possible live casing condition in the starter/generator, which could lead to a fire hazard (section 6). Owners and operators must maintain records and evidence of compliance with these directives, as CASA may conduct inspections and audits to verify adherence (section 7). Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to serious consequences. Under these regulations, non-compliance with mandatory directives can result in enforcement actions by CASA. The specific penalties for non-compliance may include fines, legal action, and potential grounding of the aircraft (section 8). Additionally, continued operation of a non-compliant aircraft can be considered an offence, leading to criminal charges and potential imprisonment for those responsible (section 9). The maximum penalties for such offences can vary but may include substantial fines and imprisonment terms as stipulated by the relevant aviation laws (section 10).

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Area of Law
Aviation Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Compliance Obligations
Enforcement Powers
Catchwords
Airworthiness Directives

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.