Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of Australia, govern the safety standards in the aviation sector. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for administering these regulations, with one of its key functions being the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (AD) to address safety concerns. One such directive is AD/SF340/92, issued in 2003 to address a specific issue with the Saab SF340 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive was introduced to address the problem of wear on the signal conditioner harness located behind the wing refuelling panel, which had been reported in certain model SF340A and 340B aircraft. The policy objective of this directive was to rectify the unsafe condition by requiring the relocation of the refuelling panel’s most outboard latch, thereby eliminating the wear on the harness and ensuring compliance with safety standards before the specified deadline.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to the SAAB SF340 Series Aeroplanes, including the SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 004 through 159, and the SF340B aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 160 through 459. The directive mandates corrective action to address an identified safety issue concerning wear on the signal conditioner harness located behind the wing refuelling panel. The action required is detailed in Saab Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 340-57-042, dated 7 May 2003, which involves relocating the most outboard latch of the refuelling panel to eliminate the wear on the harness. This directive must be complied with before 8 May 2005 and became effective on 10 July 2003. The AD is a regulatory measure issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and applies nationally across Australia, impacting the aviation industry and specifically those operating the affected aircraft models.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to the applicability, requirement, and compliance. Specifically, section 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) establishes the authority to issue such directives. The AD applies to Saab SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159, and Saab 340B aircraft with serial numbers from 160 to 459. The requirement section mandates action in accordance with Saab Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 340-57-042, dated 7 May 2003, which involves relocating the most outboard latch on the refuelling panel to eliminate wear on the signal conditioner harness. The directive must be complied with before 8 May 2005, and it became effective on 10 July 2003. The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and specific. Owners and operators of the affected aircraft models must follow the instructions outlined in the Saab Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 340-57-042. This includes conducting a thorough inspection of the refuelling panel and implementing the required modifications to the most outboard latch position. Failure to adhere to these instructions could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to operational restrictions or grounding. Breach of the AD's requirements may result in significant legal and operational consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD is an offence. The maximum penalty for such an offence is substantial, with fines up to 500 penalty units for an individual and up to 2,500 penalty units for a body corporate, in addition to potential criminal charges. Furthermore, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions, including imposing fines, issuing directives, or even suspending or cancelling aircraft certificates of airworthiness, thereby affecting the aircraft's ability to operate legally.