COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airbus Industrie A319, A320 and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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 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.
AD/A320/107 Third Occupant Seat 3/2000
Applicability: All Model A319, A320, and A321 aircraft which have the SICMA Aero Seat 133 series third occupant seats with the following part numbers and serial numbers.
1330622-070, from S/N 1 to S/N 212
1330622-070-1, from S/N 1 to S/N 212
1330622-070-2, from S/N 1 to S/N 6
1330622-100-…, from S/N 1 to S/N 13
1330622V100-1, from S/N 1 to S/N 16
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with SICMA Aero Seat Service Bulletin 133-25-006.
Note: DGAC AD 2000-042(AB) refers.
Compliance: Before 31 December 2000.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 March 2000.
Background: Absence of one of the two headrest bushings installation may lead to disengagement of the headrest from the seat assembly under high energy braking. The seats in question were manufactured prior to 1 December 1990.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 15 February 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 February 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 specifically focuses on airworthiness directives, which are issued to address safety concerns and ensure the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft. The 1998 regulations were introduced to streamline and update the regulatory framework, addressing gaps and problems that had arisen in previous legislation, particularly those related to modern aviation technologies and practices. The regulations are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), whose role includes developing and issuing airworthiness directives to correct unsafe conditions. This particular Airworthiness Directive, issued in 2000, targets Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, focusing on rectifying an issue with the SICMA Aero Seat 133 series third occupant seats that could compromise safety under certain conditions. The directive mandates specific inspections to be completed by a set compliance date, ensuring that the identified unsafe condition is addressed promptly.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to all aircraft of the specified models that are equipped with SICMA Aero Seat 133 series third occupant seats bearing certain part numbers and serial numbers. The directive mandates inspections to address an identified unsafe condition related to the potential disengagement of headrests from the seat assembly due to the absence of one of the two headrest bushings, a defect observed in seats manufactured prior to 1 December 1990. The inspection must be conducted in accordance with the SICMA Aero Seat Service Bulletin 133-25-006, and it is imperative that this action be taken before 31 December 2000. The directive is effective as of 23 March 2000 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 February 2000.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, mandate specific requirements for the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. Specifically, AD/A320/107 targets Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes with particular third occupant seats (section 3). This directive is necessitated by safety concerns regarding the disengagement of the headrest from the seat assembly under high energy braking, which can occur due to the absence of one of the two headrest bushings (section 3).
The applicability section of this directive specifies that it applies to all Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft equipped with SICMA Aero Seat 133 series third occupant seats, with detailed part numbers and serial numbers provided (section 3). The requirement section mandates that an inspection be carried out in accordance with SICMA Aero Seat Service Bulletin 133-25-006. The compliance section stipulates that this inspection must be completed before 31 December 2000, with the directive becoming effective from 23 March 2000 (section 3).
Operators and owners of the specified aircraft must ensure that the inspections are conducted by qualified personnel and in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in the SICMA Aero Seat Service Bulletin 133-25-006. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential legal consequences. The directive references DGAC AD 2000-042(AB), indicating that it is aligned with international safety standards and practices.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive could result in severe consequences, including potential grounding of the aircraft, which can disrupt operations and incur significant costs. The maximum penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the text, but typically, such violations can lead to hefty fines and legal actions under civil and criminal law. Ensuring adherence to this directive is crucial to maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.