AD/HS 125/89 Amdt 1 - Elevator Mass Balance Sideplate and Spigot Corrosion

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, establish a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation. One such measure within these regulations is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which addresses specific safety concerns related to particular aircraft models. The AD/HS 125/89 Amendment 1, for instance, pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 125 Series aeroplanes, specifically targeting issues with elevator mass balance sideplate and spigot corrosion. This directive was introduced to address a safety problem identified with the corrosion of the sideplate and spigot on these aircraft, which could potentially lead to control surface interference and compromise flight safety. The compliance requirements outlined in the directive ensure that inspections are conducted at specified intervals to mitigate the risk of corrosion-related issues. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Australian Government, is responsible for enforcing these regulations. The policy objective behind these directives is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft by mandating regular inspections and necessary corrective actions to address specific safety concerns, thereby maintaining high safety standards in the civil aviation sector.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning Airworthiness Directives for British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes, mandates stringent measures to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft, particularly addressing corrosion issues on the elevator mass balance sideplate and spigot. This directive applies to all BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes up to the 700 series. Compliance with this directive requires adherence to British Aerospace Service Bulletin 27-142 Revision 2, which specifies the necessary actions to mitigate corrosion effects. For aircraft manufactured prior to 31 December 1985, compliance must be achieved before 31 December 1987, followed by regular checks at each C3 (24 months) inspection. For those manufactured after 31 December 1984 but before the specified compliance date, checks are required at the next C2 inspection post-December 1987, with subsequent checks at each C3 inspection. The regulation's jurisdictional reach is nationwide, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that all relevant parties, including aircraft operators and maintenance providers, are held to these safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the maintenance and inspection of British Aerospace BAe 125 Series Aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directives. The primary focus of this directive, AD/HS 125/89 Amendment 1, concerns the Elevator Mass Balance Sideplate and Spigot Corrosion (11/88). This directive applies to all models up to the 700 series (Section 1). The main requirement is that actions must be taken in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin 27-142 Revision 2 (Section 2). Compliance with this directive depends on the manufacturing date of the aircraft: for aircraft manufactured before 31 December 1985, inspections must be carried out before 31 December 1987 and repeated at each C3 (24 months) inspection thereafter. For aircraft manufactured after 31 December 1984 but before the amendment date, inspections must begin at the next C2 inspection after 31 December 1987 and continue at each subsequent C3 inspection (Section 3). The obligations imposed by this directive require aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to ensure that inspections and corrective actions are carried out as specified. Operators must schedule inspections according to the aircraft's manufacturing date and ensure that any identified corrosion issues are addressed in line with the British Aerospace Service Bulletin. This includes maintaining detailed records of all inspections and any work undertaken to comply with the directive. Maintenance personnel must be trained and qualified to perform these inspections and repairs, ensuring they adhere to the specified standards to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with this directive can lead to serious safety issues, including potential control surface interference, which could compromise the safety of the flight. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties or consequences for non-compliance within the text provided; however, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 may apply. These could include fines, imprisonment, or both, for individuals or corporations found to be in breach of airworthiness directives. The severity of penalties can depend on the level of negligence and the impact on aviation safety.