AD/JETSTREAM/51 Amdt 1 - Hydraulic Power Emergency Selector Valve

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted in 1998, establish the regulatory framework for civil aviation in Australia, including the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. Part 39 of these regulations, specifically addressing airworthiness directives, ensures that aircraft meet the necessary safety standards. The legislation aims to rectify any identified safety issues and maintain the highest safety standards for aviation operations within Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the enforcing body, mandates compliance with these regulations to safeguard the public and enhance the overall safety of the aviation industry. One particular airworthiness directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 is AD/JETSTREAM/51, Amendment 1, which addresses the hydraulic power emergency selector valve for British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of excessive load required to operate the flaps and main landing gear emergency selector valve handle on in-service aircraft. The policy objective is to prevent potential failures that could impair the flight crew's ability to use the emergency hydraulic system to lower the flaps and landing gear, thereby ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. This includes the directive AD/JETSTREAM/51, which applies to all Model HP137 Mk 1, Jetstream Series 200, 3100, and 3200 aircraft. The directive mandates compliance with the technical requirements outlined in the British Aerospace Service Bulletin, CAA (UK) mandatory, 29-JA 901242 Revision 1 dated 25 September 1991. This action is necessitated by reported instances of excessive load on the flaps and main landing gear emergency selector valve handle, which, if failed, would prevent the flight crew from using the emergency hydraulic system to lower the flaps and landing gear. Compliance with this directive is required at the next 1800-hour scheduled inspection or by 31 August 1992, whichever occurs first. The directive also references the FAA AD 92-07-04 amdt 39-8200 for additional context.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, addressed in AD/JETSTREAM/51 Amendment 1 (paragraph 1). This directive mandates that operators of all Model HP137 Mk 1, Jetstream Series 200, 3100, and 3200 aircraft must comply with the technical requirements outlined in the British Aerospace Service Bulletin, CAA (UK) mandatory, 29-JA 901242 Revision 1 dated 25 September 1991 (paragraph 2). The action required under this directive must be taken at the next 1800-hour scheduled inspection, or by 31 August 1992, whichever occurs first (paragraph 3). This directive was prompted by reported cases of excessive load required to operate the flaps and main landing gear emergency selector valve handle on in-service aircraft (paragraph 4). Operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the specified maintenance action is performed as per the referenced service bulletin (paragraph 5). The directive requires that the emergency selector valve be checked and, if necessary, adjusted or replaced to meet the specified standards, to avoid any potential failure that could hinder the flight crew's ability to use the emergency hydraulic system for lowering the flaps and landing gear (paragraph 6). This ensures that all aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to avoid any mid-flight mechanical failures that could compromise flight safety (paragraph 7). Failure to comply with this directive could result in serious safety implications, as the inability to use the emergency hydraulic system could lead to significant operational difficulties (paragraph 8). The consequences of non-compliance may include regulatory actions taken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could involve fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement actions (paragraph 9). The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the directive but may include both civil and criminal penalties under Australian aviation law (paragraph 10).