COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SF340/60
Amdt 1
Flight Idle Stop Override Knob 1/2000 DM
Applicability: All SAAB SF 340A, S/N 004 through 159 inclusive, and SAAB SF 340B, S/N 160 through 404 inclusive, 406 through 408 inclusive and 410 through 413 inclusive, aircraft which incorporate SB 340-76-032 mandated by AD/SF 340/46 Amdt 1.
Requirement: Inspect the mechanical flight idle override knob for correct function in accordance with SAAB SB 340-76-041 Revision 1 dated 02 July 1997.
Note: Swedish Airworthiness Directives SAD No 1-116 and SAD No 1-148 refer.
Compliance: Unless previously carried out, prior to 31 December 1999. This Amendment becomes effective on 22 December 1999.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that while in flight a pilot was unable to activate the mechanical flight idle override knob after the cable jammed in the cable conduit.
A jammed override cable in combination with a failed automatic flight idle stop will prevent movement of the power levers below flight idle and result in an increase braking distance during the landing run.
Amendment 1 to this AD adds additional serial numbers of SF 340B aircraft to Applicability, includes Swedish AD SAD No 1-148 in Note and changes the AD compliance date. Aircraft inspected to the original issue of this AD are not affected by the AD amendment.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 11 September 1997.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. This legislation, which includes Part 39 - 105, addresses issues related to airworthiness directives and safety standards for aircraft operations. Specifically, Amendment 1 to the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes Flight Idle Stop Override Knob addresses a safety concern identified with certain SAAB SF 340 aircraft models. This amendment was introduced to rectify a problem where the mechanical flight idle override knob could jam in flight, potentially leading to an increase in braking distance during landing. The objective of this amendment is to ensure compliance with safety standards by mandating inspections to verify the correct function of the flight idle override knob for specified aircraft models. The compliance date for these inspections was set to be before 31 December 1999, ensuring that any issues were addressed promptly to enhance aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the application of airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. This legislation applies to all SAAB SF 340A and SAAB SF 340B series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers that have previously incorporated service bulletin SB 340-76-032 mandated by AD/SF 340/46 Amendment 1. The directive mandates the inspection of the mechanical flight idle override knob to ensure correct functionality, as specified in SAAB SB 340-76-041 Revision 1 dated 02 July 1997. This requirement is crucial to prevent incidents where the flight idle override knob fails to activate due to a jammed cable, which could result in increased braking distance during landing. The amendment, which became effective on 22 December 1999, extends the applicability to additional serial numbers of the SF 340B aircraft and includes Swedish Airworthiness Directives SAD No 1-116 and SAD No 1-148 in the note section. Compliance with this directive must be achieved by 31 December 1999 unless inspections have already been carried out under the original directive issued on 11 September 1997.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, mandate the inspection of SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers 004 through 159 for the 340A model and 160 through 404, 406 through 408, and 410 through 413 for the 340B model (sections 1-3). This inspection pertains to the mechanical flight idle override knob, which must function correctly as per SAAB Service Bulletin SB 340-76-041 Revision 1 dated 02 July 1997. This requirement is to ensure that the flight idle stop override knob can be activated without obstruction, preventing potential issues during flight operations.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel. They must ensure that the inspection of the flight idle stop override knob is conducted as per the specified requirements and timeframes. The inspection must be completed before 31 December 1999, unless it has already been performed. This directive became effective on 22 December 1999, extending its applicability to additional serial numbers of SF 340B aircraft and including references to Swedish Airworthiness Directives SAD No 1-116 and SAD No 1-148. It is essential that these inspections are carried out to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and to prevent potential flight safety issues.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this Airworthiness Directive may result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose penalties for non-compliance, which can include both civil and criminal penalties. Specifically, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant fines, with the exact amount varying based on the severity and impact of the non-compliance. Additionally, operators may face operational restrictions or the grounding of affected aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed. These measures are in place to ensure the highest safety standards are maintained in civil aviation operations.