{"id":"F2006B09788","name":"AD/F28/53 - Cargo Door Hinges","slug":"ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":54708,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09788-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/F28/53 - Cargo Door Hinges","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Fokker F28 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/F28/53 Cargo Door Hinges  8/87 TX\n\n \n\nApplicability: All models.\n\n \n\nRequirement: 1. Remove forward, centre and aft cargo door hinges.\n\n \n\n2.    Remove hinge wire and disassemble hinge.\n\n \n\n3.    Inspect hinge lugs for corrosion and cracking.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Unless accomplished within the pat six months within 50 hours time in service after 9 June 1987.\n\n \n\nBackground: The Department has received reports of intergranular corrosion and cracking of the cargo door hinges. In one case nearly half of the lugs were cracked.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies to all Fokker F28 series aeroplanes and mandates removal, disassembly and inspection of cargo door hinges within a specified short time window. The text supplied shows no change in scope from the stated purpose: it targets detection of intergranular corrosion and cracking in hinge lugs by inspection required of all applicable aircraft. (Applicability; Requirement 1–3; Background; Compliance)"},"complexity_factors":["Limited number of discrete technical steps (remove hinges, disassemble, inspect). (Requirement 1–3)","Short, explicit compliance window but with a conditional carve‑out (ambiguous wording of past six months). (Compliance)","Safety‑critical technical content that requires specialist maintenance skills and judgment to assess corrosion/cracking. (Requirement 3; Background)","No detailed remediation instructions or parts/procurement guidance — leaves follow‑up actions to operators/MROs. (Requirement 3)"],"plain_english_summary":"### What this directive requires\n\n- Who issued it: The directive is published under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 — Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (Civil Aviation Safety Authority). (Header)\n- Which aircraft it applies to: All Fokker F28 series aeroplanes. (Applicability)\n- Mandatory actions for operators/maintenance organisations: 1) Remove the forward, centre and aft cargo door hinges. 2) Remove the hinge wire and disassemble each hinge. 3) Inspect the hinge lugs for corrosion and cracking. (Requirement 1–3)\n- Timing: The work must be done within 50 hours time-in-service after 9 June 1987, unless the same work was already completed within the previous six months. (Compliance)\n\n### Why the directive exists (stated reason)\nThe Department received reports of intergranular corrosion and cracking in cargo door hinges; one report described nearly half the hinge lugs cracked. The directive is intended to detect and address those defects before they cause a failure. (Background)\n\n### Who pays, who decides, and what changes\n- Who decides: The Commonwealth Civil Aviation authority issued the airworthiness directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations. (Header)\n- Who pays: Aircraft operators or their contracted maintenance organisations pay for removal, disassembly, inspection, and any remedial work. The directive does not specify funding or compensation. (Requirement 1–3; Compliance)\n- Behaviour change required: Operators must schedule and carry out physical removal and detailed inspection of cargo door hinges within the specified time window; if corrosion or cracking is found, follow-on repair or replacement will be needed (the directive requires inspection but does not set out repair instructions). (Requirement 1–3)\n\n### Practical effects, trade-offs and implementation points to note\n- Direct costs and downtime: The actions require hands-on maintenance work that consumes labour hours, maintenance-shop time and possibly replacement parts. Those costs are borne by operators or their maintenance providers. (Requirement 1–3)\n- Compliance burden and scheduling: The 50-hour time-in-service window creates a short compliance horizon. Operators must prioritise the work in their maintenance schedules to avoid non‑compliance. (Compliance)\n- Unspecified follow-up actions: The directive requires inspection but does not specify remedial procedures or parts supply; where corrosion or cracking is found, operators must arrange appropriate repairs, which can add further cost and procurement needs. (Requirement 3; Background)\n- Risk and intent: The stated technical risk is intergranular corrosion and cracking of hinge lugs. The directive targets detection and prevention of hinge failure by mandating inspection. (Background)\n- Effects on market participants: Independent maintenance organisations (MROs) can perform the work, so demand for MRO labour and parts may rise temporarily. The directive does not alter ownership or operational rules beyond the inspection obligation. (Requirement 1–3)\n\n### Trade-offs, incentives and possible unintended consequences\n- Incentives: Operators are incentivised to inspect and, if necessary, repair hinges promptly to remain airworthy. The short deadline increases the incentive to prioritise this task over less urgent work. (Compliance)\n- Opportunity cost: Time spent on these inspections displaces other maintenance activities and may reduce aircraft availability until work is complete. (Requirement 1–3)\n- Substitution and supply risk: Because the directive does not prescribe repair methods or parts, operators may face variation in repair approaches and potential delays if replacement components are scarce. (Requirement 3)\n- Concentrated benefits, diffuse costs: The primary safety benefit accrues to operators and their passengers; costs are borne by all operators of the affected aircraft type. (Applicability; Background)\n\nReferences: Applicability; Requirement 1–3; Compliance; Background."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, targeted safety directive focused specifically on Fokker F28 cargo door hinge inspections. It has not expanded beyond its original technical safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 150 words)","No defined terms section — all language is operational and plain","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations","Simple conditional logic: single compliance deadline with one exception clause","Straightforward three-step mechanical procedure","Single applicability criterion ('All models') with no exceptions or sub-categories"],"plain_english_summary":"This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for aircraft.\n\n**What it does:**\nIt requires owners and operators of **Fokker F28 series aircraft** to inspect the cargo door hinges for dangerous corrosion and cracking.\n\n**Specific steps required:**\n- Remove the forward, centre, and aft cargo door hinges\n- Take apart the hinge assembly by removing the hinge wire\n- Check the hinge lugs (the parts that connect the hinge to the door) for corrosion and cracks\n\n**Who must comply:**\nAnyone operating Fokker F28 aircraft — all models are affected.\n\n**When it must be done:**\nWithin 50 hours of flying time after 9 June 1987, unless the inspection was already done in the previous six months.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe aviation authority received reports that these hinges were suffering from \"intergranular corrosion\" (a type of rust that attacks the metal's internal structure) and cracking. In one reported case, nearly half the hinge lugs were cracked — a serious safety risk as cargo doors could fail in flight or on the ground.\n\nThis directive is designed to prevent potential door failures that could endanger passengers, crew, and people on the ground."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges","history":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-f28-53-cargo-door-hinges/documents"}}