Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted by the Australian Parliament to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. These regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is tasked with ensuring compliance with the regulations through the issuance of various directives. One such directive, AD/SF340/95, was introduced on 25 December 2003 to address an unsafe condition identified in the SAAB SF340 series aeroplanes, specifically regarding the separation of windshield wiper blades. The directive applies to Model SF340A aircraft with serial numbers 004 through 159, and Model 340B aircraft with serial numbers 160 through 459. The policy objective behind this AD is to mandate corrective action as specified in SAAB Service Bulletin 340-30-088, ensuring that the identified unsafe condition is rectified before 30 June 2004 to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Saab SF340 Series aeroplanes, encompassing model SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159 and model 340B aircraft with serial numbers from 160 to 459. This AD mandates compliance with the instructions detailed in SAAB Service Bulletin 340-30-088 to address a specific unsafe condition identified with the windshield wiper arm. The requirement to take action is imperative for ensuring the continued airworthiness of these aircraft, and must be completed before 30 June 2004. This directive applies on a national level, as it is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, a Commonwealth authority, and aims to maintain safety standards within Australia’s civil aviation sector. The directive does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, implying that all specified aircraft must comply with the outlined requirements.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) applies to specific models of Saab SF340 aircraft. Specifically, it concerns Model SF340A aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 159 and Model 340B aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 160 to 459. The directive was issued to address an incident involving the separation of a windshield wiper blade, as detailed in the background section (section 1). The AD mandates that the action outlined in the requirement section must be implemented, which involves following the instructions provided in Saab Service Bulletin 340-30-088 (section 2). This action must be taken by the specified compliance date, which is before 30 June 2004 (section 3). The AD imposes certain obligations on the parties or entities governed by it. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that the specified action, as detailed in the requirement section, is carried out on their Saab SF340 aircraft within the stipulated timeframe (section 2). This involves adhering to the instructions provided in Saab Service Bulletin 340-30-088, which likely includes detailed steps for inspecting, repairing, or replacing the windshield wiper arm to prevent further separation incidents. The directive also requires that the action be completed before the compliance date of 30 June 2004, ensuring that the safety measures are implemented promptly. The AD does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance. However, failure to adhere to ADs can lead to serious safety issues and may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Potential consequences could include grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken, fines, and other regulatory penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in this AD, CASA has the authority to take action under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and related regulations to ensure compliance with airworthiness directives.