AD/JETSTREAM/65 - Wing - Main Landing Gear Bay Doublers

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B10935, address the safety of Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes, particularly concerning the structural integrity of the main landing gear bays. This regulation was enacted to mitigate the risk of cracking in the joggled doublers at the forward edge of these bays, an issue identified during fatigue testing. The objective is to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft through timely inspections and necessary modifications. The requirement mandates that pre-modification Jetstream 3200 aircraft undergo inspections before reaching a specific number of flying hours and be modified accordingly to enhance the structural fatigue life. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Australian Government to safeguard the operational safety of these aircraft within the national airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an airworthiness directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) series aeroplanes, with particular focus on the Jetstream 3200 series aircraft up to and including constructor’s number 969. This directive mandates inspections and modifications to the joggled doublers at the forward edge of the left and right main landing gear bays. The directive applies to pre-modification Jetstream 3200 aircraft identified by specific constructor numbers, JM 8122 and JM 8195. The directive requires initial inspections before the aircraft reaches 4000 flying hours or within 200 flying hours from 15 September 1994, whichever comes later, and subsequent reinspections every 600 flying hours until the aircraft is modified. Pre-modification aircraft must be modified before reaching 9000 flying hours, following the guidelines in British Aerospace SB 57-A-JA920540, which will then negate the need for ongoing inspections. This directive aims to address and prevent potential fatigue-related cracks in the specified areas of the aircraft, thereby enhancing the overall structural integrity and safety of the aircraft in operation.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of AD/JETSTREAM/65 mandate specific actions for the maintenance and modification of Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes (subsection 1(1)). This legislation requires an inspection of the joggled doubler at the forward edge of the left and right main landing gear bays (subsection 1(1)(a)) and the installation of new doublers, contingent on the aircraft's modification status (subsection 1(1)(b)). The applicability of this directive is limited to Jetstream 3200 series aircraft up to and including constructor’s number 969 (subsection 1(2)). The compliance criteria demand an initial inspection of pre-modification JM 8122 aircraft before they reach 4000 flying hours or within 200 flying hours from 15 September 1994, whichever comes later (subsection 1(3)(a)). This inspection must be followed by reinspections at intervals of 600 flying hours until the aircraft is modified (subsection 1(3)(a)). For pre-modification JM 8122 and JM 8195 aircraft, modifications must be completed before reaching 9000 flying hours (subsection 1(3)(b)). Once modifications are carried out in accordance with British Aerospace SB 57-A-JA920540, the inspection requirement is negated (subsection 1(3)(b)). The obligations imposed by AD/JETSTREAM/65 are primarily centred around the inspection and modification of specified components on Jetstream 3200 series aircraft. Operators of these aircraft must ensure that inspections and modifications are conducted as outlined in the directive (subsection 1(1)). For pre-modification JM 8122 aircraft, inspections must be performed before reaching 4000 flying hours or within 200 flying hours from 15 September 1994 (subsection 1(3)(a)). These inspections must be repeated at intervals of 600 flying hours until the aircraft is modified (subsection 1(3)(a)). For JM 8122 and JM 8195 aircraft, modifications must be completed before the aircraft reaches 9000 flying hours (subsection 1(3)(b)). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in non-airworthiness of the aircraft, which is a serious breach of aviation safety regulations. The consequences of non-compliance with AD/JETSTREAM/65 can be severe. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take action against operators who fail to adhere to the inspection and modification requirements. This could include imposing fines, issuing compliance orders, or even grounding non-compliant aircraft (subsection 2(1)). The maximum penalties for breaches of civil aviation safety regulations can include substantial fines and potential imprisonment for individuals or corporations found guilty of non-compliance. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to increased risk of aircraft failure, potentially resulting in accidents that could endanger lives and property.