Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the regulatory framework for ensuring airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australia. One of the legislative instruments under this act is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate. This AD, identified as AD/JETSTREAM/92, was enacted on 8 August 2002 to address safety issues associated with the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) Series Aeroplanes, particularly the Jetstream 3200 series. The directive was prompted by reports of insulation damage to the fuel tank wiring, which posed a significant safety risk. The policy objective of this AD is to mandate the replacement of the left and right fuel tank wiring harnesses, as well as the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the wiring for fuel boost pumps, in order to mitigate the identified safety risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. Compliance with this directive is required by 31 August 2003, and the directive supersedes the previously issued AD/JETSTREAM/85, which has been cancelled.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies specifically to all Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates the replacement of the left and right fuel tank wiring harnesses, along with an inspection of the wiring of the fuel boost pumps, and the replacement of any damaged wiring if necessary. These actions must be carried out in accordance with BAe Systems Service Bulletin 28-JM8226 dated 11 March 2002. The directive is effective from 8 August 2002, and compliance is required before 31 August 2003. This Airworthiness Directive was necessitated by reports of insulation damage to fuel tank wiring and supersedes the previous AD/JETSTREAM/85, which is now cancelled. The AD is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, who is authorised under the subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, and is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17 July 2002.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, Section 105, establish a detailed schedule of airworthiness directives (AD) that apply to various aircraft types, including the British Aerospace BAe 3100 (Jetstream) series aeroplanes (section 105). This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/JETSTREAM/92), issued on 8 August 2002, pertains to the Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes and mandates specific actions to address identified safety concerns. The directive is intended to rectify issues related to fuel tank wiring insulation damage that were previously reported. The directive imposes a clear set of requirements for Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes. It mandates the replacement of the left and right fuel tank wiring harnesses to ensure improved insulation qualities. Furthermore, it requires an inspection of the wiring of the fuel boost pumps, with any damaged wiring to be replaced if necessary. These actions must be carried out in accordance with BAe Systems Service Bulletin 28-JM8226 dated 11 March 2002 (section 105). The directive notes that it supersedes and cancels the previous AD/JETSTREAM/85, emphasising the importance of adhering to the most current safety instructions. The obligations under this Airworthiness Directive are stringent and must be met by all operators of Jetstream 3200 series aeroplanes. The directive requires that the specified actions be completed before 31 August 2003, ensuring that the safety measures are implemented in a timely manner. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to civil or criminal consequences. In terms of penalties and consequences, while the specific penalties for non-compliance with this AD are not detailed in the provided text, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 generally impose significant fines and other sanctions for breaches of airworthiness directives. Operators found in violation of such directives may face substantial financial penalties, operational restrictions, or even criminal charges in severe cases, underscoring the critical importance of adherence to these safety mandates.