COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SF340/57
Amdt 1
Horizontal Stabiliser Front Spar Fastener Holes 1/99
Applicability: Model SF-340A, serial numbers SF-340A-004 through SF-340A-159, and model SAAB 340B, serial numbers 340B-160 through 340B-439.
Requirement: Action in accordance with SAAB Aircraft Service Bulletin 340-55-34.
Note: LFV AD 1-133 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document with a revised effective date of 28 January 1999.
This Amendment becomes effective on 28 January 1999.
Background: During simulated flight testing in the “Full Scale Fatigue Test Rig”, fatigue cracks were found in the forward spar of the horizontal stabiliser. The cracks were located at the intersection between the rear fuselage and the forward spar upper spar cap. The starting point for the initial crack is considered to be in the upper part of the web at one of the fastener holes.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new Requirement document which introduces a Cold Working Expansion Procedure for four of the holes in the upper cap and the web. This procedure will extend the fatigue life and minimise future need for repairs.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 August 1997.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes AD/SF340/57 Amendment 1, which pertains to the SAAB SF340 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was enacted to address the safety concerns identified in the horizontal stabiliser front spar fastener holes of SAAB SF-340A and SAAB 340B models. The problem arose from the discovery of fatigue cracks in these areas during simulated flight testing, which prompted the need for immediate action to ensure airworthiness and safety in civil aviation.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to regulate aviation safety and ensure compliance with international standards. This specific legislative instrument aims to rectify the identified structural issues in the SAAB SF340 Series aeroplanes by mandating actions in accordance with SAAB Aircraft Service Bulletin 340-55-34, including the implementation of a Cold Working Expansion Procedure to extend the fatigue life of the affected areas. The policy objective is to enhance aircraft safety by preventing the occurrence of structural failures in the horizontal stabiliser.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, pertains specifically to the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes, and mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives for this particular model. This legislation applies to all SF-340A series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from SF-340A-004 to SF-340A-159, as well as to the SAAB 340B series with serial numbers from 340B-160 to 340B-439. The directive is designed to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft by requiring specific actions as outlined in SAAB Aircraft Service Bulletin 340-55-34. Compliance with the directive is essential and must be achieved by following the Requirement Document, which has been revised to reflect an effective date of 28 January 1999. This Amendment itself became effective on the same date, ensuring that all relevant entities must adhere to these standards to maintain regulatory compliance and ensure the safety of the aircraft in question. The legislation extends its reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying nationally to all relevant aircraft within the specified serial number ranges.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument includes the AD/SF340/57 Amendment 1, which addresses the issue of horizontal stabiliser front spar fastener holes (s 1). This directive applies to model SF-340A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from SF-340A-004 to SF-340A-159 and model SAAB 340B aeroplanes with serial numbers from 340B-160 to 340B-439. The directive requires action in accordance with SAAB Aircraft Service Bulletin 340-55-34 (s 2). This bulletin outlines the specific steps and procedures to address the fatigue cracks found in the forward spar of the horizontal stabiliser during simulated flight testing.
The obligation imposed by this directive is to ensure that all applicable aircraft undergo the specified maintenance action as detailed in the SAAB Aircraft Service Bulletin. Compliance with this directive must be achieved according to the requirements outlined in the Requirement Document, with a revised effective date of 28 January 1999 (s 3). The directive itself becomes effective on this date, mandating that operators of the specified aircraft types must implement the necessary changes to maintain the airworthiness of their aeroplanes. The directive notes that it references LFV AD 1-133 for additional context.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to structural failure in flight. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to severe consequences, including grounding of the aircraft, fines, and other enforcement actions by CASA. The overarching aim of these provisions is to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the specified Saab SF340 aeroplanes by addressing the identified structural issues in a timely and effective manner.