COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SF340/81 and issues the following 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 aircraft or 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.
SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SF340/81
Amdt 1
Pitot Static Tubes 10/2002
Applicability: Model SF340A aeroplanes, serial numbers (S/N) 004 through 159 inclusive and Model 340B aeroplanes S/N 160 through 459 inclusive.
Requirement: Modify the pitot static system in accordance with Saab Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-34-145 dated 1 October 2001.
Note: LFV AD 1-167 refers.
Compliance: Before 31 January 2003.
This Amendment becomes effective on 3 October 2002.
Background: The Swedish Luftfartsverket has advised that operators have reported a number of events involving erroneous airspeed indications. In some instances all three airspeed indication systems failed simultaneously. Typically, during descent from cruise altitude one or more airspeed indicators incorrectly show gradually decreasing airspeed, at lower altitudes the correct airspeed is again displayed and no fault can be detected once the aeroplane is on the ground. Investigation revealed that the cause of the incorrect airspeed displays is ice forming in the pitot static tubes.
The original issue of this Directive required the installation of new left and right main pitot static tubes with increased heating and a new gasket between the tube and aircraft structure that ensures improved thermal insulation. This Amendment contains minor reformatting and extends compliance.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 29 November 2001.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 23 August 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 September 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation (Airworthiness) Notice 2002 (F2006B07012), address the problem of erroneous airspeed indications in Saab SF340 series aeroplanes, serial numbers 004 to 459, caused by ice forming in the pitot static tubes. This piece of legislation was introduced to rectify the unsafe condition identified by the Swedish Luftfartsverket, which reported several instances of airspeed indication failures. The policy objective, as stated in the background, is to ensure the safety of civil aviation by mandating modifications to the pitot static system of affected aircraft to prevent erroneous airspeed indications. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, through its delegate James Coyne, revoked the previous Airworthiness Directive AD/SF340/81 and issued this amendment to require compliance before 31 January 2003. The amendment was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 September 2002.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to the SAAB SF340 Series aeroplanes, encompassing Model SF340A aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/N) ranging from 004 to 159, and Model SF340B aeroplanes with S/N from 160 to 459. The directive mandates modifications to the pitot static system as per Saab Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-34-145 dated 1 October 2001, in response to reported incidents of erroneous airspeed indications caused by ice formation in the pitot static tubes. Operators must comply with the directive by making the specified modifications before 31 January 2003, as indicated in the compliance section. This legislative instrument extends the scope of the original directive, which was first issued on 29 November 2001, and is applicable nationwide across Australia under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, suggesting that it applies broadly to the specified aircraft models within the Australian aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) in Part 39, 105, specify the requirements for airworthiness directives. Section 39.1(1) empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate to issue such directives, which are binding on the specified aircraft or aeronautical products. Specifically, the directive in question, AD/SF340/81 Amendment 1, targets the Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes. The applicability of this directive is limited to Model SF340A aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/N) 004 through 159, and Model 340B aeroplanes with S/N 160 through 459 inclusive. This means that only these specific aircraft models and serial numbers are required to comply with the directive.
The directive mandates that the pitot static system of the affected aircraft be modified in accordance with Saab Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin SAAB 340-34-145 dated 1 October 2001. This involves installing new left and right main pitot static tubes with enhanced heating and a new gasket that improves thermal insulation. This action is necessary to address the issue of erroneous airspeed indications caused by ice forming in the pitot static tubes. The compliance deadline for these modifications is before 31 January 2003, and the directive became effective on 3 October 2002.
Operators of the affected Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes must ensure that the required modifications to the pitot static system are completed by the specified compliance date. This includes adhering to the detailed instructions provided in the Saab Aircraft AB Mandatory Service Bulletin. Failure to comply with this directive can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to operational restrictions or grounding of the aircraft until the necessary modifications are made.
Under CAR 1998, failure to comply with an airworthiness directive can result in significant consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the requirements may face civil or criminal penalties. For instance, operating an aircraft that does not comply with an airworthiness directive could result in fines or imprisonment. Additionally, CASA has the authority to take enforcement actions such as suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, which would prevent the aircraft from being operated until the necessary actions are completed. The specific penalties for non-compliance are detailed in other sections of the CAR 1998 and can vary based on the severity and circumstances of the breach.