AD/JETSTREAM/81 - Nose Wheel Steering Jack Seal Change

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, were enacted to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australia. One of the legislative instruments under this regulation, F2006B10952, was introduced to address a critical safety issue identified with the British Aerospace Jetstream series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument mandates a modification to the nose wheel steering jack seals to prevent potential failures that could lead to serious incidents such as steering lock-up. The policy objective behind this directive is to enhance aircraft safety by requiring compliance with specific service bulletins and to ensure that all affected aircraft are maintained to a standard that prevents mechanical failures. This directive became effective on 28 January 1999 and required compliance by 30 September 1999 at the next scheduled overhaul, thereby addressing a gap in aircraft maintenance standards identified through operational experience.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to all British Aerospace Regional Aircraft HP137 Mk 1 Jetstream Series 200, 3100 and 3200 series aircraft operating within Australian airspace. This regulation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable to all aircraft of the specified series regardless of the operator or the nature of the flight, whether commercial or private. The directive mandates that modifications to the nose wheel steering jack must be carried out in accordance with British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Service Bulletin 32-JA900942 Revision 5 and the Landing Gear manufacturer’s Service Bulletin, APPH Limited SB32-51 Revision 5. This directive aims to rectify a critical safety issue where the nose wheel steering jack seals were found to deteriorate and contaminate the jack, leading to potential steering lock up. The modification must be completed at the next scheduled overhaul of the nose wheel steering jack but no later than 30 September 1999. The Airworthiness Directive became effective on 28 January 1999, following a serious incident that highlighted the necessity for these safety measures.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105 under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contain specific provisions aimed at ensuring the safety of certain British Aerospace Regional Aircraft. Specifically, AD/JETSTREAM/81 mandates the modification of the nose wheel steering jack for all British Aerospace Jetstream Series 200, 3100, and 3200 series aircraft (s. 1). This modification must adhere to the specifications outlined in British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Service Bulletin 32-JA900942 Revision 5 and the Landing Gear manufacturer’s Service Bulletin, APPH Limited SB32-51 Revision 5 (s. 2). The directive references a UK Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Directive (AD 003-09-98 dated 22 October 1998) as background context (s. 3). The primary obligation imposed by this directive is that the nose wheel steering jack must be modified in compliance with the specified service bulletins. This modification must occur during the next scheduled overhaul of the nose wheel steering jack, with an absolute deadline of 30 September 1999 (s. 4). The directive underscores the importance of timely action to address the identified safety issue, which pertains to the deterioration of the nose wheel steering jack seals, potentially leading to steering lock-up incidents (s. 5). Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious safety implications. Although the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance within this specific directive, general regulatory frameworks often include substantial penalties for failing to adhere to safety mandates. Such penalties may include fines, legal action, and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to criminal charges for negligence, with maximum penalties potentially including imprisonment, especially if the non-compliance results in accidents or severe safety incidents (s. 6).