Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, establish a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to maintain and enhance air safety through detailed regulations and directives. One such directive, AD/HS 748/22, addresses the issue of corrosion found in the main hydraulic accumulators of British Aerospace HS748 aircraft. The directive was introduced to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating regular inspections and repairs, following the identification of extensive corrosion under the mounting brackets of the accumulators. The policy objective is to prevent potential safety hazards by enforcing timely maintenance actions as specified in the British Aerospace Service Bulletin HS748-29-49. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 19 June 1997, requiring compliance within 30 days of its enactment and every two years thereafter.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of Part 39 - 105, imposes specific airworthiness directives on certain types of aircraft, including the British Aerospace (Hawker Siddeley) HS 748 Series Aeroplanes. This regulation mandates that operators of these aircraft must inspect the main hydraulic accumulators for signs of corrosion and undertake necessary repairs. The directive applies to all British Aerospace HS748 aircraft and requires compliance within 30 days from the effective date of the directive, which is 19 June 1997, and subsequently every two years. This ensures the ongoing safety and airworthiness of the aircraft by addressing the specific issue of corrosion under the mounting brackets of the main hydraulic accumulators, as identified in British Aerospace Service Bulletin HS748-29-49 issued on 25 February 1997. The regulation underscores the importance of regular maintenance checks to prevent failures that could compromise the safety of air travel.

Key Provisions

The main sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD/HS 748/22) require that all British Aerospace HS748 aircraft undergo an inspection of their main hydraulic accumulators for corrosion (section 1). This inspection must be carried out in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin HS748-29-49 issued on February 25, 1997 (section 2). The directive specifies that the inspection must occur within 30 days from the effective date of the directive, which is June 19, 1997, and subsequently, every two years (section 3). The directive applies specifically to British Aerospace HS748 aircraft (section 4). The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties and entities it governs include ensuring that the inspection of the main hydraulic accumulators is conducted meticulously and in accordance with the specified guidelines provided in the British Aerospace Service Bulletin HS748-29-49. This involves the removal and examination of the accumulators to check for any signs of corrosion under the mounting brackets. Any detected corrosion must be repaired as per the directives to maintain the aircraft’s airworthiness. Operators must maintain thorough records of each inspection and any repairs carried out, ensuring compliance with the mandated timeframes. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. If an operator does not conduct the required inspections or fails to address any detected corrosion, the aircraft may not meet the necessary safety standards. This non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Potential penalties include fines and possible grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed. The exact penalties are not specified in this directive but can be severe, reflecting the importance of maintaining the integrity of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems.