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/16 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/16
Amdt 1
Avio Interiors - Series 312 Seat Aisle Side 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 312/912-02 Rev 1. Replace any cracked crossmember in accordance with paragraph 3 of SB 312/912-02 Rev 1.
Note 1: Italian ENAC AD 2000-512 refers.
Note 2: Modification in accordance with Aviointeriors SB 312/912-04 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 312/912-04.
This amendment becomes effective on 19 April 2001.
Background: The manufacture has had reports of fatigue cracking in the aisle 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 reflects the superseding Italian AD, changes the compliance requirements from calendar time to flight hours and provides terminating action.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 15 June 2000.
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, as amended by the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SEATS/16 Amendment 1, was enacted in 2001 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in response to reports of fatigue cracking in the aisle cross-member of Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, which could compromise safety during high accelerations. This amendment reflects the superseding Italian AD, modifies the compliance requirements from calendar time to flight hours, and provides terminating action in line with Aviointeriors Service Bulletin 312/912-04. The directive mandates inspections and replacements of cracked cross-members in accordance with specified service bulletins, applicable to all Avio Interiors model 312 series seats installed on Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft, with inspections required before 12,000 flight hours or before 19 October 2001, whichever is later, and then every 650 flight hours unless the modification specified in Aviointeriors Service Bulletin 312/912-04 is applied. The objective of this legislation is to ensure the airworthiness of affected aircraft by addressing potential safety hazards identified in the subject seats.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, encompasses a series of airworthiness directives that are issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These regulations apply to various entities within the aviation sector, particularly focusing on the maintenance and safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. The directive AD/SEATS/16, as amended by AD/SEATS/16Amdt 1, pertains to all Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, known to be installed on Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft. The AD mandates specific actions to address the identified unsafe condition of fatigue cracking in the aisle cross-member of these seats, necessitating inspections and replacements as per the instructions outlined in the directive. The directive's applicability extends to any aircraft equipped with the specified seats, and it requires compliance by a set date or after a certain number of flight hours, whichever comes later, unless modified as per the terminating action specified in Avio Interiors SB 312/912-04. The regulations are enforced within the national jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia and are subject to further modifications or clarifications through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SEATS/16 Amdt 1 pertain to the applicability, requirement, and compliance of inspections and replacements for the Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats (section 1). This AD applies to all Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats, specifically known to be installed on Fokker F27-050, -0502, and -0604 aircraft (section 2). The requirement section mandates that inspections must be conducted in accordance with Avio Interiors Service Bulletin (SB) 312/912-02 Rev 1, and any cracked cross-member must be replaced as per paragraph 3 of the same bulletin (section 3). The compliance timeline stipulates that inspections must occur before reaching 12,000 flight hours or before 19 October 2001, whichever is later, and subsequently every 650 flight hours, unless the seats are modified in accordance with Avio Interiors SB 312/912-04 (section 4). The AD was amended to reflect the superseding Italian AD, and it changed the compliance requirements from a calendar date to flight hours, providing terminating action for the directive (section 5).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Owners and operators of aircraft equipped with Avio Interiors model 312 series passenger seats must ensure that inspections are conducted as specified in Avio Interiors SB 312/912-02 Rev 1. This includes identifying and addressing any fatigue cracking in the aisle cross-member. The AD also requires that any replacement of cracked cross-members must be performed in accordance with the instructions set out in paragraph 3 of the same service bulletin. Additionally, the compliance timeline necessitates that inspections are carried out before the aircraft reaches 12,000 flight hours or before 19 October 2001, whichever is later, and then every 650 flight hours unless a modification in accordance with Avio Interiors SB 312/912-04 is implemented (section 4).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an AD can be considered an offence. Specifically, any person who contravenes the AD may be liable to a civil penalty, which could include fines up to the maximum prescribed by the regulations. Additionally, if non-compliance leads to an unsafe condition, it may result in criminal charges being laid against the responsible parties. The severity of the penalties can depend on the circumstances and the impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety.