COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Seats and Berths
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SEATS/14 Amdt 1 and issues the following 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 aircraft or 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/SEATS/14
Amdt 2
Avio Interiors - Series 312 Seats Centre Cross-member Cracking
4/2001
Applicability: All Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats. (The affected seats are known to be installed on, but not limited to Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft).
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Aviointeriors SB 312/912-01 Rev 2. Replace any cracked crossmember in accordance with paragraph 3 of SB 312/912-01 Rev 2.
Note 1: Italian ENAC AD 2000-511 refers.
Note 2: Modification in accordance with Aviointeriors SB 312/912-03 provides terminating action against this AD.
Compliance: Before 12000 flight hours or before 19 October 2001 whichever occurs later and thereafter every 650 flight hours, unless modified in accordance with Aviointeriors SB 312/912-03.
This amendment becomes effective on 19 April 2001.
Background: The manufacture has had reports of fatigue cracking in the centre cross-member of the subject seats. Such cracking may result in seats being unable to meet the loads required at certification, and a unsafe condition may exist which would be detrimental to the occupant during high accelerations.
Amendment 1 revises the compliance period and the Requirement document.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 January 2000.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 February 2001.
Amendment 2 reflects the superseding Italian AD, changes the compliance requirements from calendar time to flight hours and provides terminating action.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 February 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 March 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, address issues surrounding the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One specific gap this legislation aimed to fill was the need for stringent and enforceable directives to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft components, such as seats. In response to reports of fatigue cracking in the centre cross-member of Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to mandate the inspection and replacement of these potentially unsafe components. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate risks associated with structural failures during flight, thereby enhancing passenger safety and maintaining the overall integrity of the aircraft. This directive underscores CASA’s commitment to continuous oversight and corrective action to uphold high safety standards in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, mandates Airworthiness Directives (AD) that are issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. The Airworthiness Directive AD/SEATS/14 Amdt 2 applies to all Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, which are notably installed on Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft. The directive necessitates inspections and repairs as outlined in the Aviointeriors Service Bulletins to address the issue of fatigue cracking in the centre cross-member of these seats, which could pose safety risks during high acceleration events. The requirement for compliance includes inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the cracked cross-member according to the specified bulletins, with periodic inspections to be carried out based on flight hours rather than calendar time, starting from 19 April 2001. The AD also references the Italian ENAC AD 2000-511 and provides a terminating action if the seats are modified in accordance with Aviointeriors SB 312/912-03. This AD applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by CASA, which has the power to revoke or amend such directives as necessary to maintain safety standards.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) (AD/SEATS/14 Amdt 2) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) concerns all Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, specifically those installed on Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft. The directive applies to seats that have reported instances of fatigue cracking in the centre cross-member, which could lead to the seats failing to meet certification load requirements and pose a risk to occupant safety during high accelerations. To address this issue, the AD mandates an inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of cracked cross-members as per Avio Interiors Service Bulletin (SB) 312/912-01 Rev 2. The compliance requirements dictate that this inspection and any necessary repairs must be conducted before reaching 12,000 flight hours or before 19 October 2001, whichever is later, and then every 650 flight hours unless a modification is made in accordance with Avio Interiors SB 312/912-03.
The obligations under this AD are clear and specific. Operators of aircraft equipped with Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats must ensure that the seats are inspected and any necessary repairs are carried out as specified in the Avio Interiors SB 312/912-01 Rev 2. This involves inspecting the seats for cracks in the centre cross-member and replacing any cracked components. Operators must adhere to the compliance timeline provided, conducting inspections before the specified flight hour limits and dates, and then every 650 flight hours unless a modification has been made according to the relevant service bulletin.
Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious matter under the CAR 1998. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to take enforcement action against operators who fail to adhere to these requirements. Potential penalties for non-compliance may include fines and other legal actions. The exact penalties can vary based on the severity and circumstances of the breach but can be substantial, reflecting the importance of maintaining airworthiness standards to ensure passenger safety.