AD/SF340/42 - Nose and Main Landing Gear

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted by the Australian Government to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. This legislation is instrumental in addressing the need for stringent airworthiness directives to maintain the safety standards of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for enforcing these regulations, ensuring that any identified safety issues are promptly addressed. The policy objective is to prevent aviation accidents and incidents by mandating timely and appropriate actions to rectify any identified safety deficiencies. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B06971, pertains to the Saab SF340 Series Aeroplanes and outlines the requirements for addressing nose and main landing gear issues. It specifically targets the models SF340A and 340B, with certain serial numbers, to rectify extension and retraction problems caused by loose retract actuator brackets. The directive requires compliance with Saab Service Bulletin 340-32-094 and mandates actions to be taken within a specified timeframe to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the application and scope of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes. This directive, AD/SF340/42, pertains to nose and main landing gear issues and applies to two distinct model series: the SF340A with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159, and the SF340B with serial numbers from 160 to 346. The directive requires operators to take action as outlined in SAAB Service Bulletin 340-32-094, referencing LFV AD 1-061 for additional guidance. Compliance necessitates adhering to the specified requirement document, with immediate short-term actions to be completed within 600 landings following 3 February 1994. This directive aims to address service-related problems such as extension and retraction issues in the landing gear, which have been attributed to loose retract actuator brackets and subsequent bolt shear at the bracket retaining bolts.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, address the safety directives applicable to the SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes. The regulation AD/SF340/42, dated 2/94, pertains to the nose and main landing gear of the SAAB SF340A and 340B models. The directive applies to SF340A models with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159 and to SF340B models with serial numbers from 160 to 346 (Section 1). The requirement outlined in this regulation mandates that actions be taken in accordance with SAAB Service Bulletin 340-32-094 (Section 2). The bulletin refers to the requirement for short-term action to be completed within 600 landings after 3 February 1994, ensuring compliance with the specified Requirement Document (Section 3). The entities governed by this regulation, primarily the aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must adhere to the outlined requirements to maintain the airworthiness of the specified SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes. This includes following the detailed instructions in SAAB Service Bulletin 340-32-094, which addresses the specific issue of loose retract actuator brackets that can lead to extension and retraction problems (Section 4). Operators and maintainers must ensure that the short-term action is completed within the specified timeframe, and that any identified issues are rectified to prevent the occurrence of bolt shear at the retaining bolts, which can lead to bracket movement and subsequent safety concerns (Section 5). Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/SF340/42 may result in significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can take enforcement action against non-compliant aircraft operators and maintenance providers. The specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument but generally, CASA may impose fines, suspend or revoke airworthiness certificates, or take other regulatory actions deemed necessary to ensure compliance and safety (Section 6). The severity of penalties can vary based on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but the primary objective is to ensure that all affected aircraft meet the required safety standards to prevent any potential safety hazards.