AD/HS 748/19 - Supplementary Structural Inspection Document

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to Airworthiness Directives, was enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. One such airworthiness directive, AD/HS 748/19, applies to British Aerospace (Hawker Siddeley) HS 748 Series Aeroplanes, and was introduced to address the need for supplementary structural inspections to maintain the integrity of high-time HS748 aircraft. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, a body established under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and its objective is to ensure compliance with the HS748 Supplementary Structural Inspection Document. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of civil aviation by mandating specific inspection procedures and intervals, as well as the use of approved inspection methods. The AD/HS 748/19 directive requires operators to incorporate the requirements of the HS748 Supplementary Structural Inspection Document into their maintenance schedules, with certain exceptions and additions, such as using high-frequency eddy current inspections in lieu of visual methods and ensuring compliance with specified service bulletins. This directive aims to address structural integrity issues and ensure the continued safety of HS748 aircraft in operation. The compliance date for this directive is 25 May 1995, aligning with international standards and recommendations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that the Airworthiness Directive AD/HS 748/19 applies to all British Aerospace (Hawker Siddeley) HS 748 Series aeroplanes operating within Australian airspace. This legislative instrument pertains to the incorporation of the HS748 Supplementary Structural Inspection Document Revision 2 into the Maintenance Schedule of the affected aircraft, with certain exceptions and additions specified. The directive requires operators to implement a high frequency eddy current inspection approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in place of the visual method outlined in item 57-40-1. Additionally, operators must ensure they meet the full requirements of Service Bulletins SB 57/75, SB 57/55, SB 57/34, SB 55/19, and SB 53/49 when complying with the SSID. Furthermore, the inspection intervals and procedures specified in SB 52-101 must be observed in accordance with item 52-30-1. This legislation is effective from 25 May 1995 and is designed to maintain the airworthiness of high-time HS748 aircraft, referencing CAA(UK) AD 010-09-85 and British Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin 12/11 Revision 1.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate that all British Aerospace (Hawker Siddeley) HS 748 Series aeroplanes must adhere to the requirements of the HS748 Supplementary Structural Inspection Document (AD/HS 748/19). Section 105(1) requires that these requirements be incorporated into the maintenance schedule, with certain exceptions and additions. One key modification is the substitution of a high frequency eddy current inspection, approved by the Authority, in place of the visual method specified in item 57-40-1 (section 105(2)(i)). Additionally, operators must ensure compliance with specified Service Bulletins (SB), including SB 57/75, SB 57/55, SB 57/34, SB 55/19, and SB 53/49, and observe the inspection intervals and procedures outlined in SB 52-101 when addressing item 52-30-1 (section 105(2)(ii) and (iii)). The obligations imposed by these regulations are significant. Operators of HS 748 aircraft must integrate the Supplementary Structural Inspection Document into their maintenance schedules, ensuring that all prescribed inspections and procedures are meticulously followed. This includes replacing the specified visual inspection method with an approved eddy current inspection technique and ensuring that all relevant Service Bulletins are adhered to. Operators must maintain detailed records of all inspections and actions taken, ensuring that these documents are readily available for review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) or other regulatory bodies (section 105(4)). Failure to comply with these directives can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 establish that non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive is an offence, subject to penalties (section 105(5)). Specifically, under section 230A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, an individual or entity found in breach of these regulations may face substantial fines. The maximum penalty for corporate entities can reach up to $1,080,000, while individuals can be fined up to $216,000. Additionally, persistent non-compliance could result in more severe penalties, including imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the breach (section 230A(2) and (3)). CASA has the authority to issue enforcement notices, and persistent non-compliance may also result in the grounding of affected aircraft until compliance is achieved.