AD/JETSTREAM/53 Amdt 1 - Door Locking Mechanism Taper Pin

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in Australian airspace, thereby addressing gaps in regulatory oversight and safety compliance. The Australian Parliament introduced this legislation to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation, focusing on the safety and operational standards of aircraft, including the issuing of airworthiness directives to ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards. The policy objective behind this enactment is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation by imposing stringent requirements on the design, manufacture, and operation of aircraft. One such airworthiness directive is AD/JETSTREAM/53 Amendment 1, which pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing issues with the door locking mechanism taper pin. This directive was issued to correct a manufacturing oversight where the taper pin, essential for securing the indicator button assembly to the locking dog, was inadvertently omitted during the installation of the passenger/crew door. The absence of this pin could lead to the loosening of the outer handle indicator button and an inability to open the door from the outside, posing a safety risk. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for model 3100 and 3200 series aircraft with specified main passenger/crew door serial numbers and must be completed by 31 July 1992, unless previously addressed by an earlier issue of the requirement document.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives that mandates certain safety requirements for particular aircraft models. In this instance, AD/JETSTREAM/53 Amendment 1 pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, particularly those in the Model 3100 and 3200 series with specific Main Passenger/Crew Door serial numbers listed in BAe Jetstream ASB 52-A-JA 911140 Revision 2. The regulation requires action in accordance with the BAe Jetstream Mandatory ASB 52-A-JA 911140 Revision 2, ensuring the correct installation of the taper pin in the door locking mechanism to prevent the loosening of the outer handle indicator button and the inability to open the door from the outside. The compliance for this directive must be met unless the action specified in a previous issue of this Safety Bulletin has already been accomplished, with an effective compliance date prior to 31 July 1992. This Amendment 1 is effective from 7 January 1993, indicating that any aircraft not previously rectified must adhere to the new directive from this date.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes (s. 1). The AD, titled "Door Locking Mechanism Taper Pin" (AD/JETSTREAM/53 Amendment 1), was issued on 1 January 1993 (s. 2). It applies to Model 3100 and 3200 Series aircraft with Main Passenger/Crew Door serial numbers listed in BAe Jetstream ASB 52-A-JA 911140 Revision 2 (s. 3). The directive mandates that actions be taken in accordance with BAe Jetstream Mandatory ASB 52-A-JA 911140 Revision 2, which corrects a manufacturing issue identified during the installation of the passenger/crew door (s. 4). Aircraft that have already undergone the specified corrective action as per a previous issue of the directive do not require further work (s. 5). Compliance with the directive must be achieved unless the previous issue has already been addressed, and it must be completed before 31 July 1992 (s. 6). It is noted that the compliance status of the previous directive remains unchanged, and this amendment takes effect from 7 January 1993 (s. 7). The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of BAe 3100 and 3200 Series aircraft, requiring them to ensure that the door locking mechanism taper pin is correctly installed as per the specified ASB revision (s. 4). Operators must verify the serial numbers of their aircraft's Main Passenger/Crew Doors to determine applicability (s. 3). If an aircraft falls within the scope of the directive, operators must implement the corrective actions outlined in the latest version of the Requirement Document, ensuring that any previously identified issues are rectified (s. 5). Compliance must be achieved by the specified deadline, and operators must maintain records demonstrating adherence to the directive (s. 6). Failure to comply with the provisions of the AD may result in serious safety implications, as the absence of the taper pin could lead to the loosening of the outer handle indicator button and prevent the door from being opened from the outside (s. 4). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action against operators who do not comply with the directive, including issuing compliance orders, fines, or other penalties as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations (s. 8). While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, they may include substantial financial penalties and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken.