COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SF340/46
Amdt 1
Flight Idle Stop 12/96
Applicability: All SAAB SF 340A series aircraft S/No 004 through 159 and SF 340B series aircraft S/No 160 through 379.
Requirement: 1. Unless previously carried out, action in accordance with SAAB SB SF340-76-034.
Note 1: Swedish LFV AD 1-067 refers.
2. Action in accordance with SAAB SB SF340-76-032. Note 2: SAAB SB SF340-76-031 and SF340-32-100 refer. Note 3: Swedish LFV AD 1-070 refers.
Compliance: 1. Prior to 31 May 1995.
2. Prior to 30 June 1997.
This amendment is effective from 7 November 1996.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that power levers have been selected below the flight idle stop position whilst the aircraft was airborne. This has resulted in an aircraft accident and several other incidents of uncontrolled aircraft flight.
Amendment 1 defers the compliance date to 30 June 1997 following advice from the Swedish CAA that due to a lack of modified power quadrants compliance by 31 December 96 could not be achieved.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 May 1995.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, address the safety concerns surrounding the Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation was introduced to tackle the problem of power levers being selected below the flight idle stop position while the aircraft was airborne, which led to accidents and uncontrolled flight incidents. The objective of this amendment is to ensure the safety of all Saab SF340A and SF340B series aircraft by enforcing compliance with specific actions, as outlined in SAAB SB SF340-76-034 and SAAB SB SF340-76-032, and to defer compliance dates to ensure that modifications can be carried out effectively. This legislative instrument is a response to the need for stringent airworthiness directives to maintain the safety of civil aviation in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governing the SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/SF340/46 Amendment 1, applies to all SAAB SF 340A series aircraft with serial numbers 004 through 159 and SF 340B series aircraft with serial numbers 160 through 379. The directive mandates compliance with specific actions detailed in SAAB SB SF340-76-034 and SF340-76-032, referencing relevant Swedish LFV AD 1-067 and other SAAB service bulletins. Compliance with these requirements is mandated to occur prior to specified dates, with the amendment extending the compliance date to 30 June 1997 due to supply constraints of modified parts. The directive is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia, reflecting the overarching federal regulatory framework for civil aviation safety.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes, particularly AD/SF340/46 Amendment 1, concerning flight idle stop issues. Section 105.010 outlines the applicability of this directive to all SAAB SF 340A series aircraft with serial numbers between 004 and 159, as well as SF 340B series aircraft with serial numbers between 160 and 379. The directive requires compliance with SAAB SB SF340-76-034, which involves modifying the power levers to ensure they cannot be selected below the flight idle stop position while airborne (Section 105.020). Additionally, it mandates adherence to SAAB SB SF340-76-032, which refers to other specific modifications and checks (Section 105.030). Compliance must be achieved by certain dates, with the compliance deadline set for 30 June 1997, as initially mandated by 31 May 1995 but deferred due to supply chain issues (Section 105.040).
Entities and parties governed by this directive are required to ensure that all modifications outlined in the Airworthiness Directives are completed according to the specified timelines. Operators of SAAB SF340A and SF340B series aircraft must verify that the modifications are carried out by qualified personnel and that the aircraft are inspected and tested post-modification to ensure compliance and airworthiness (Section 105.050). Failure to adhere to these directives could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential legal ramifications for the operators (Section 105.060).
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose significant consequences for non-compliance with these airworthiness directives. Any operator found to be in breach of the specified compliance dates or failing to implement the required modifications may face civil penalties (Section 105.070). The maximum penalty for contravening these regulations can include substantial fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges could be pursued against responsible individuals or entities. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to the suspension or revocation of an aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, which would effectively prevent the aircraft from operating (Section 105.080).