COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/RAD/69 AlliedSignal RIA-32A ILS Receiver 2/2000
Applicability: AlliedSignal RIA-32A Instrument Landing System (ILS) navigation receivers having part numbers (P/N) 2070724-3201 and -3203.
Note 1: These ILS navigation receivers are known to be installed in, but not limited to, Airbus Model A300 series aeroplanes and Boeing Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200F, -200C, -300, 747SR, and 747SP series aeroplanes.
Requirement: 1. For ILS navigation receivers having serial numbers 1 through 2365 inclusive - Replace three resistors in the ILS navigation receiver with higher ohm resistors in accordance with Bendix/King Service Bulletin (SB) RIA-32A-34-47, Revision 1, dated January 1992; and replace the nameplate on the receiver with a new nameplate in accordance with Bendix/King SB RIA-32A-34-48, dated December 1991.
2. For ILS navigation receivers having serial numbers 2366 and subsequent - Replace the nameplate on the receiver with a new nameplate in accordance with Bendix/King SB RIA-32A-34-48, dated December 1991.
Note 2: FAA AD 99-23-24 Amdt 39-11420 refers.
Compliance: For Requirements 1 and 2 - Within six months after the effective date of this directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 February 2000.
Background: The FAA has received reports indicating that, during final approach, ILS navigation receivers installed on certain Airbus Model A300 series aeroplanes have indicated a valid signal from the glideslope ground station, though the ground station was not operating. An absent glideslope signal is normally indicated by the glideslope instrument warning flag on the radio direction magnetic indicator. In these events, the glideslope instrument warning flag moved out of view, indicating to the flight crew that a valid signal had been received from the glideslope ground station.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Investigation revealed that the ILS navigation receiver was incorrectly responding to a low-voltage signal from the glideslope ground station to the ILS enable input. The manufacturer of the receiver has determined that certain resistors within the receiver are improperly sized to ensure a correct response to all possible voltage signals. This condition, if not corrected, could result in the ILS navigation receiver providing inaccurate data to the flight crew by falsely indicating a valid signal from the glideslope ground station. The glideslope is the vertical flight path that an aeroplane is to follow when making an ILS landing. Inaccurate data from the ILS navigation receiver could lead to the aeroplane making an approach off the glideslope, which could result in a landing short of the runway or a runway overrun.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 January 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 January 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation activities in Australia, ensuring safety and maintaining standards within the aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), a body within the Australian Government, administers these regulations. One such regulation is Part 39 - 107, which includes Airworthiness Directives designed to address safety concerns identified in specific aeronautical products. The problem this legislation addresses is the potential for ILS navigation receivers to provide inaccurate data, which could lead to dangerous landing scenarios. This directive was introduced to correct an unsafe condition identified in certain ILS receivers, ensuring that these devices provide reliable information to flight crews during critical phases of flight, thereby enhancing aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39, specifically the Airworthiness Directives section, sets out legislative requirements for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/RAD/69 pertains to the AlliedSignal RIA-32A ILS navigation receivers, which have part numbers 2070724-3201 and -3203. These receivers are installed in various aircraft models, including Airbus A300 series and Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. The directive applies to all such receivers irrespective of the aircraft model they are installed in. The directive mandates the replacement of specific resistors and nameplates on the receivers to correct an issue where the receivers could incorrectly indicate a valid signal from the glideslope ground station during final approach, which could potentially lead to unsafe landing conditions. Compliance with the directive requires that the specified actions be taken within six months of the directive's effective date, which was 24 February 2000. The directive was issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and was gazetted on 27 January 2000, ensuring that the changes are communicated to all relevant stakeholders within the aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under PART 39 – 107, mandate the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. Specifically, AD/RAD/69 pertains to the AlliedSignal RIA-32A ILS Receivers with certain part and serial numbers, which are known to be installed in various Airbus and Boeing aircraft models. The applicability section of the AD specifies the exact ILS receivers that need to be addressed by the directive. The requirement section outlines the necessary actions to be taken to rectify the unsafe condition identified. These actions include replacing specific resistors and the nameplate on the ILS navigation receivers according to specified service bulletins and timelines. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved within six months of the AD's effective date.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the entities responsible for maintaining the airworthiness of the affected ILS receivers. Owners and operators of aircraft equipped with the specified ILS receivers must follow the directive's instructions to replace the resistors and the nameplate as directed. Failure to comply with the AD within the specified timeframe could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thereby preventing its operation until the required modifications are completed. This obligation ensures that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants is not compromised due to faulty equipment.
Non-compliance with the AD/RAD/69 may result in severe consequences, including potential grounding of the affected aircraft, which could lead to significant operational disruptions and financial losses for the operators. While the CAR 1998 does not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance with ADs, CASA has the authority to enforce compliance through administrative actions, which could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory measures. Such actions underscore the importance of adhering to the AD to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation.