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Contaminated Air and Airworthiness Directive

Source: Aviation Contaminated Air Reference Manual

Airworthiness Directive AD 003-10-2002 ©	10th April 2008
by Susan Michaelis

In the UK this service bulletin was made mandatory on 19th December 2002 as Airworthiness Directive number AD 003-10-2002. The relevant extracts are shown below.

UK Civil Aviation Authority
Airworthiness Directive: AD 003-10-2002
British Aerospace BAe 146
19 December 2002

Title: Inspect air conditioning sound attenuating ducts for signs of oil contamination.

…The Service Bulletin requires an inspection of the inside of each of the four air conditioning sound attenuating ducts for the presence of oil contamination. This action is required because incidents have been reported involving impaired performance of the flight crew. At this time, there is no substantiated evidence indicating that oil breakdown products can impair crew performance, however, whilst investigations are carried out, oil leaks and cabin/flight deck odours must be regarded as a potential threat to flight safety.

Compliance: Mandatory

The service bulletin BAe 21-156 was made mandatory by CASA as AD BAe 146/102 On the 28th of November 2002. The Australian AD stated however that, ‘It is found that the sound attenuating material used in the air-conditioning ducts can absorb oil and can become a source of persistent air contamination.’

What is interesting is that the inspection service bulletins BAe 21-150 and 21-156 were only made applicable to the BAe 146 and excluded the BAe later model, the BAe 146/RJ. Again the Airworthiness Directives raised by the CAA and the UK only applied to the 146 model aircraft and excluded the RJ. This is interesting given that the BAe 146/RJ is also well known for contaminated air events. Likewise similar ADs concerning inspection and maintenance for oil contamination were not raised on other aircraft types also known to experience considerable contaminated air events such as the B757, A320, MD80, or any other aircraft for that matter.

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