COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes
AD/JETSTREAM/7
Amdt 2
Main Landing Gear Hinge Fitting and Support Angle
5/95
Applicability: All Jetstream 3100 series aircraft with constructors numbers 601 to 695 inclusive, without Service Bulletin 57-JM 5218 incorporated.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin (BAe SB) 32-A-JA 850127, Revision 2, dated 11 November 1994.
Compliance: Initially inspect before exceeding 4000 component landings.
Re-inspect at the intervals specified in BAe SB 32-A-JA 850127, Revision 2. The inspection requirements are unchanged by this Amendment.
This Amendment is effective from 27 April 1995.
Background: Cracks have been found at the MLG hinge fittings on the Jetstream fatigue test specimen. In addition, a number of cases of cracks have been reported by operators of earlier series versions of the Jetstream. Amendment 2 redefines the applicability and excludes aircraft incorporating Mod No JM5218 (SB 57-JM 5218 refers).
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, were enacted to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation in Australia. The legislation provides a framework for the safe operation of aircraft, and one of the key components of this is the issue of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety concerns. The AD/JETSTREAM/7 Amendment 2, concerning the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, was introduced to address the problem of cracks found at the main landing gear (MLG) hinge fittings in certain Jetstream 3100 series aircraft. This amendment was necessary following the discovery of such defects in a fatigue test specimen and reports from operators of earlier versions of the Jetstream. The objective of this amendment is to ensure that all applicable aircraft undergo the necessary inspections and maintenance to prevent potential safety hazards, thereby maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety in Australia. This specific amendment was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and became effective on 27 April 1995.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all Jetstream 3100 series aircraft with constructors numbers 601 to 695 inclusive, provided they have not incorporated Service Bulletin 57-JM 5218. This regulation is focused on ensuring the safety and airworthiness of these specific aircraft models through the application of Airworthiness Directives. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this regulation is national, as it is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under Commonwealth law. The directive requires an inspection of the main landing gear hinge fitting and support angle to identify and address potential cracks, which have been a recurring issue based on reports from operators and findings from fatigue tests. Compliance with the directive involves an initial inspection before exceeding 4000 component landings and subsequent re-inspections as specified in the referenced British Aerospace Service Bulletin. This Amendment is effective from 27 April 1995, ensuring that the necessary safety measures are implemented to mitigate identified risks.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the AD/JETSTREAM/7 Amendment 2 (paragraph 105.231A) pertain to the inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) hinge fittings and support angles of British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) series aeroplanes. Specifically, it applies to all Jetstream 3100 series aircraft with constructors' numbers ranging from 601 to 695, excluding those that have already incorporated Service Bulletin 57-JM 5218. The requirement is to inspect these components in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin (BAe SB) 32-A-JA 850127, Revision 2, dated 11 November 1994. The initial inspection must occur before the aircraft exceeds 4000 component landings, and subsequent re-inspections must be conducted at intervals as specified in the aforementioned service bulletin.
This legislative instrument imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected Jetstream 3100 series aircraft. Operators must ensure that the initial inspection of the MLG hinge fittings and support angles is conducted before the aircraft surpasses 4000 component landings. Furthermore, ongoing compliance requires that these inspections are performed at regular intervals as outlined in the referenced service bulletin. Any non-compliance with these inspection requirements may result in significant safety risks, given the history of cracks found at the MLG hinge fittings during fatigue testing and reports of similar issues from operators of earlier Jetstream versions.
Failure to comply with the inspection requirements set forth in this amendment may result in serious consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance in this context, non-compliance could potentially lead to the aircraft being grounded or deemed unairworthy. This, in turn, could result in civil or criminal liabilities under broader aviation safety laws. Operators who neglect to adhere to the stipulated inspection intervals and requirements may face severe repercussions, including fines, penalties, or even imprisonment, depending on the extent of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety.