AD/SF340/34 - Dual Pressure Indicator

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B06963, pertains to the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes and addresses the critical issue of undetected loss of hydraulic pressure in these aircraft. The directive was introduced to rectify the problem of pilots not being able to detect hydraulic pressure loss, which has resulted in incidents of aircraft taxiing with compromised nose wheel steering and brakes. This legislative instrument was created by the Commonwealth of Australia and its policy objective is to ensure that all relevant aircraft comply with the specified safety requirements by a set deadline to mitigate safety risks. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, the directive mandates that all model SF340A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 138 inclusive, unless they have already complied with SAAB-Scania Service Bulletin SF340-29-004 Revision 1, must adhere to the airworthiness directive by 30 June 1993. This requirement is in response to reports of aircraft suffering from loss of hydraulic pressure, an issue that has been highlighted by Swedish AD SAD No 1-043 and FAA AD 92-07-01 amdt 39-8197. The overarching goal is to enhance the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations in Australia by ensuring that all aircraft meet stringent airworthiness standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes, applies to all model SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 138 inclusive. The regulation mandates that unless the action specified in SAAB-Scania Service Bulletin SF340-29-004 Revision 1 has already been performed, the requirement to address the issue of the dual pressure indicator must be met by 30 June 1993. This directive was issued in response to multiple reports of aircraft experiencing a loss of hydraulic pressure that went undetected by the pilots, leading to incidents where aircraft were taxiing with inoperative nose wheel steering and brakes. The regulation draws reference from Swedish AD SAD No 1-043 and FAA AD 92-07-01 amendment 39-8197, ensuring alignment with international safety standards. The applicability of this directive is geographically confined to the Commonwealth of Australia, and it extends its reach through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, enforcing compliance with stringent safety measures to mitigate potential risks associated with hydraulic pressure failures.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR) pertaining to the Saab SF340 Series Aeroplanes, particularly AD/SF340/34, mandate specific actions concerning the dual pressure indicator. According to section 39-105, all model SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 003 to 138 inclusive must adhere to the directives unless they have previously implemented the actions outlined in SAAB-Scania Service Bulletin SF340-29-004 Revision 1. This regulation references Swedish AD SAD No 1-043 and FAA AD 92-07-01 amdt 39-8197, indicating a cross-jurisdictional concern regarding the hydraulic pressure issues. The compliance deadline set by the regulation is 30 June 1993, underscoring the urgency and importance of addressing these safety concerns. The obligations imposed by the CAR on the parties governed by this legislation are stringent. Owners and operators of the specified Saab SF340A aircraft must ensure that their aircraft meet the outlined requirements for the dual pressure indicator. This includes conducting a thorough review of the aircraft's maintenance history to confirm compliance with the referenced service bulletins. If previous compliance has not been documented, operators must implement the necessary corrective actions to rectify any discrepancies and ensure the aircraft's airworthiness. Additionally, these parties are required to maintain accurate records of all actions taken to comply with the AD. Failure to comply with the provisions of the CAR as outlined in AD/SF340/34 can result in significant legal consequences. The primary concern is the potential for non-compliance to lead to the operation of an aircraft that is not airworthy, which can result in serious safety hazards. The regulations do not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties within the text provided; however, non-compliance with aviation safety directives typically falls under broader regulatory frameworks that may impose penalties. Such penalties can include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and other enforcement actions as deemed appropriate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The severity of these penalties can be significant, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to safety directives in aviation.