COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/SF340/73 Electrical Wiring - Cabin Compartment Ceiling 2/2000
Applicability: Model SF340A aeroplanes, serial number (S/N) 004 through 159 and Model 340B aeroplanes, S/N 160 through 459.
Requirement: Inspect the wiring harness routed through the cabin compartment ceiling, repair (if necessary) and install additional chafe protection in accordance with SAAB Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-92-027 dated 10 December 1999.
Note: LFV AD 1-149 refers.
Compliance: Either before 14,000 hours total time in service is accumulated or within 4,000 hours time in service after the effective date of this directive, whichever occurs latest.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 February 2000.
Background: The manufacturer has advised of wire chafing occurring in the cabin ceiling area, where the wire passed through a frame lightening hole, which caused a false tailpipe hot warning. The wire chafing could cause other false warning and signal failures.
This directive ensures early detection of chafing and introduces measures designed to minimise the likelihood of further chafing of occurring.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 January 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 January 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation in Australia, addressing safety concerns and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry. This legislation was introduced to fill the gap in aviation safety standards and regulatory oversight, ensuring that all civil aviation activities within Australia meet stringent safety requirements. The CAR 1998 was enacted by the Australian Parliament and is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The overarching policy objective of this legislation is to enhance aviation safety by setting out detailed regulations that cover various aspects of civil aviation, including aircraft maintenance, operations, and airworthiness directives. This approach ensures that all civil aviation activities in Australia adhere to high safety standards, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the efficiency and safety of the national airspace.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically applies to Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes, including Model SF340A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159 and Model 340B aeroplanes with serial numbers from 160 to 459. The directive mandates that the wiring harness routed through the cabin compartment ceiling be inspected, repaired if necessary, and have additional chafe protection installed in accordance with the instructions provided in SAAB Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-92-027 dated 10 December 1999. Compliance with this AD is required either before the aeroplane accumulates 14,000 hours of total time in service or within 4,000 hours of time in service following the effective date of the directive, whichever is later. This Airworthiness Directive was issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to address the risk of wire chafing in the cabin ceiling area, which could result in false warnings and signal failures, and it became effective on 24 February 2000.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39-105, establishes the Airworthiness Directives (AD) for aircraft, including the AD/SF340/73 concerning the SAAB SF340 Series aeroplanes. This directive mandates specific actions to rectify an identified unsafe condition, in this case, related to electrical wiring in the cabin compartment ceiling. The AD applies to SAAB SF340A aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159, and SAAB SF340B aeroplanes with serial numbers from 160 to 459. The directive requires that the wiring harness routed through the cabin compartment ceiling be inspected, repaired if necessary, and that additional chafe protection be installed in accordance with the instructions outlined in SAAB Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-92-027 dated 10 December 1999. This requirement is intended to prevent wire chafing that has led to false warnings and signal failures.
The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and specific. Operators of the affected SAAB SF340 aeroplanes must ensure that the inspection and repair of the wiring harness, as well as the installation of additional chafe protection, are carried out in line with the detailed instructions provided in the service bulletin. This directive requires compliance either before the aeroplane accumulates 14,000 hours of total time in service or within 4,000 hours of time in service after the effective date of the directive, whichever comes later. The directive became effective on 24 February 2000, and compliance must be achieved by adhering to these timelines.
Failure to comply with the AD/SF340/73 can result in serious consequences. The AD is a legal requirement issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to take regulatory action against operators who fail to adhere to the directive. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, breaches can result in substantial fines and potential criminal charges. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of maintaining airworthiness to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.