COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Propellers - Variable Pitch - Dowty Rotol
AD/PR/29
Amdt 5
Operating Cylinder Retaining Bolts 2/94
Applicability: R352/6-123-F/1 and R352/6-123-F/2 propellers bearing Serial Nos "DRG" or with Serial No prior to DAP 0064 fitted to Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with Dowty Aerospace Gloucester mandatory Service Bulletin No F50-61-93 Revision 1 or F50-61-67 Revision 2, as applicable.
2. Unless previously carried out action in accordance with Dowty Aerospace Gloucester mandatory Service Bulletin F50-61-108.
Note: RLD AD BLA 91-135/2 (A), RLD AD BLA 93-130 (A) and Fokker SB F50-61-
016 refers.
Compliance: 1. At intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service until Dowty Aerospace Gloucester SB F50-61-108, modification VP3460, has been incorporated.
2. By 31 December 1994.
Background: There has been reports of propeller operating cylinder retaining bolts, P/N A102-3J, P/N A212-3J or P/N A212-5J, losing torque during normal service with one reported incident of oil leakage from the hub to cylinder interface. This directive raised in sequence to provide terminating action for this directive and include R352/6-123-F/2 propellers.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, which deals with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes AD/PR/29 Amendment 5. This amendment was enacted to address the issue of propeller operating cylinder retaining bolts losing torque during normal service, with a documented incident of oil leakage from the hub to the cylinder interface. The problem targeted by this legislation is the risk of structural failure in certain propellers that could compromise flight safety. The Australian Government, through the Parliament, established these regulations to ensure the safety of civil aviation by imposing mandatory service bulletins and compliance requirements for specific propellers.
The policy objective behind this legislation is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by ensuring that any identified risks to aircraft components are mitigated promptly. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority enforces this through specific directives that require adherence to service bulletins issued by Dowty Aerospace Gloucester, ensuring that the required modifications and inspections are carried out at specified intervals or before a certain date to prevent potential hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, establish the authority and requirements for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) concerning aircraft safety. This particular AD/PR/29 Amendment 5 pertains to the operation of variable pitch propellers, specifically the R352/6-123-F/1 and R352/6-123-F/2 propellers with certain serial numbers fitted to Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft. The directive applies to these particular propellers, necessitating actions to address issues such as the loss of torque in operating cylinder retaining bolts and oil leakage at the hub to cylinder interface. Compliance with this directive requires adherence to specific Dowty Aerospace Gloucester service bulletins, either F50-61-93 Revision 1 or F50-61-67 Revision 2, as applicable, and the previous incorporation of modification VP3460, as outlined in Dowty Aerospace Gloucester SB F50-61-108, by certain deadlines. The directive’s scope is limited to the specified propellers and aircraft models, ensuring that relevant parties are aware of and implement the necessary safety measures to mitigate identified risks.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/PR/29 Amendment 5, pertains to the operating cylinder retaining bolts on certain Dowty Rotol propellers fitted to Fokker F27 Mk 50 aircraft. The directive applies to R352/6-123-F/1 and R352/6-123-F/2 propellers with specific serial numbers (section 2). The directive mandates actions that must be taken in accordance with Dowty Aerospace Gloucester's mandatory Service Bulletins, specifically No F50-61-93 Revision 1 or F50-61-67 Revision 2, as applicable, and unless previously executed, action in accordance with Service Bulletin F50-61-108 (section 1). Compliance with these directives is required at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service until a particular modification has been incorporated, and by a specified deadline of 31 December 1994 (section 1).
The obligations under this directive require aircraft operators to adhere to the prescribed service bulletins and modifications. This involves ensuring that the operating cylinder retaining bolts are either inspected, repaired, or replaced as specified by the relevant Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Service Bulletins. Operators must maintain detailed records of these actions to demonstrate compliance and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected propellers. This includes any modifications made to the propellers, such as the incorporation of Dowty Aerospace Gloucester Service Bulletin F50-61-108, modification VP3460 (section 1).
Failure to comply with these Airworthiness Directives can result in serious safety implications and legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline that non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. These actions may include the issuance of fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance is found to be deliberate or reckless. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive but can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft components as mandated by CASA (section 1).