Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were established to provide a regulatory framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39 of these regulations specifically addresses airworthiness directives, which are critical in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, was introduced to address unsafe conditions identified in the Saab SF340 series aeroplanes, specifically concerning bolt and bushing installations at WS 123.38. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate corrective actions to mitigate the risks of high bearing stresses, worn bushings, elongated holes, vibrations, and cracked flap fittings, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the necessary safety measures are enforced in accordance with the regulations.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains to specific models of the Saab SF340 series aeroplanes, namely the SF340A and SF340B, with certain serial numbers and flap assemblies. This directive applies to aircraft operators who possess aeroplanes within the specified serial number ranges and flap assembly serial numbers. The AD mandates specific actions to address identified discrepancies in the bolt and bushing installation at WS 123.38, which may result in safety issues such as worn bushings, elongated holes, vibrations, and cracked flap fittings. The actions required are detailed in SAAB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) 340-57-035, dated 18 January 2000. Compliance with the AD involves conducting an initial inspection within 800 hours of time in service after 23 March 2000, with subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 800 hours, and replacement actions within 4800 hours of time in service after the same date. The AD became effective on 23 March 2000 and is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all relevant aircraft meet the specified airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, issue an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Saab SF340 series aeroplanes, which is AD/SF340/75 (section 3). This directive pertains to specific models and serial numbers of the aircraft, with particular attention to those having flap assemblies and certain serial numbers as outlined in the applicability section (section 4). The directive mandates that corrective action be taken in accordance with SAAB Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) 340-57-035, dated 18 January 2000 (section 5). This action includes bolt and bushing installation at WS 123.38 to address discrepancies that could lead to high bearing stresses, worn bushings, elongated holes, vibrations, and cracked flap fittings. The AD references previous LFV AD 1-152 for additional context. The AD imposes obligations on the operators of the specified Saab SF340 series aeroplanes to ensure compliance with the directive's requirements. This includes conducting an initial inspection within 800 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date, 23 March 2000, and subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 800 hours (section 6). Additionally, the replacement of bolts and bushings must be carried out within 4800 hours of time in service following the same date. The AD becomes effective on 23 March 2000, and compliance is mandatory for the specified models and serial numbers. Failure to comply with the AD may result in severe consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state specific penalties or offences in the provided text, but non-compliance could lead to safety risks, grounding of the aircraft, or other regulatory actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Operators are expected to adhere strictly to the AD to maintain airworthiness standards and ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. The directive’s stringent requirements underscore the importance of following the specified corrective actions to prevent potential hazards identified by the AD.