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/83
Amdt 1
Nose Wheel Steering - Inspection 8/99 TX
Applicability: All British Aerospace Regional Aircraft HP137 Mk 1 Jetstream Series 200, 3100 and 3200 series aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect the nose wheel steering feedback system freeplay and self centring system in accordance with Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840 Revision 3 dated 5 May 1999.
Note: Jetstream ASB 32-A-JA980840 Revision 3 has been endorsed MANDATORY by the CAA UK.
Compliance: Compliance is to be achieved as follows:
- Aircraft with 15,000 or more landings - by 15 August 1999
2. Aircraft with between 10,000 and 14,999 landings - by 15 September 1999
3. Aircraft with 9,999 or less landings - by 15 October 1999 This Amendment becomes effective on 28 June 1999.
Background: Investigation of a recent accident revealed excessive free play between the steering handle or knob and the nose wheels due to wear in the steering selector differential, the two steering follow up mechanism toggle sub assemblies, the main upper toggle; assembly and the main lower toggle assembly. This Directive originally introduced an inspection to ensure that any free play in the steering mechanism was within acceptable limits. The UK CAA has determined that the original inspection called up in SB 32-A-JA980840 Rev 2 was inadequate and has now determined that a completely new procedure is required to ensure the safety of the aeroplane.
This amendment mandates the re-inspection of all aircraft regardless of the outcomes and work performed under the original issue of the AD.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 8 January 1999.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, govern the safety and operational standards within the nation's civil aviation sector. Among its provisions, Part 39 - 105 outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, which are mandatory safety regulations for specific aircraft types to ensure their continued safe operation. One such directive, AD/JETSTREAM/83 Amendment 1, pertains to the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the identified problem of excessive freeplay in the nose wheel steering system, which was found to be a safety risk following an accident investigation. The policy objective is to mandate regular inspections of the nose wheel steering feedback system and self-centring system to maintain operational safety and prevent accidents related to steering malfunctions. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with specific deadlines based on the number of landings the aircraft has accumulated.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, apply to all British Aerospace Regional Aircraft HP137 Mk 1 Jetstream Series 200, 3100, and 3200 series aircraft. This legislation mandates the inspection of the nose wheel steering feedback system and self-centring system, as outlined in the Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840 Revision 3, endorsed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority as mandatory. Compliance with this directive is based on the number of landings the aircraft has completed, with different deadlines set for aircraft with varying landing counts: those with 15,000 or more landings must comply by 15 August 1999, those with between 10,000 and 14,999 landings by 15 September 1999, and those with 9,999 or fewer landings by 15 October 1999. The amendment to the directive became effective on 28 June 1999, superseding the original directive issued on 8 January 1999, and requires re-inspection of all aircraft irrespective of previous inspections or work conducted under the original directive.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105 and specifically Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, include an amendment (AD/JETSTREAM/83Amdt 1) concerning nose wheel steering inspections (Section 8/99 TX). This directive applies to all British Aerospace Regional Aircraft HP137 Mk 1 Jetstream Series 200, 3100, and 3200 aircraft. The main requirement (Section 8/99 TX) is to inspect the nose wheel steering feedback system freeplay and self-centring system according to the Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840 Revision 3 dated 5 May 1999. This inspection procedure has been endorsed as mandatory by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties and entities it governs are quite specific. Owners and operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the required inspections are conducted by certified personnel. The inspections must adhere to the detailed procedures outlined in the endorsed Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin. Additionally, records of these inspections must be maintained and made available upon request by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to demonstrate compliance with the directive. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive could lead to severe consequences. Section 8/99 TX outlines the compliance timeline, with aircraft having 15,000 or more landings needing to be inspected by 15 August 1999, those with between 10,000 and 14,999 landings by 15 September 1999, and those with 9,999 or less landings by 15 October 1999. The directive became effective on 28 June 1999. Non-compliance can result in enforcement actions by CASA, which may include fines, suspension of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections are satisfactorily completed. The exact penalties are not specified in the text but could potentially include substantial fines and other regulatory sanctions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988.