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
AD/A320/19 Hydraulic Fire Shut-Off Valve 10/91
Applicability: Airbus A320, all models.
Requirement: Inspect and/or modify subject aeroplanes in accordance with French Airworthiness Directive (AD) 90-152-019 (B).
Note: French AD 90-152-019(B) refers to Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex Ref AOT 29-04 1 June 1991 Revision 1.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document but with a revised effectivity date of 3 October 1991 for Australian registered aircraft.
Background: This Directive has been issued in order to prevent a possible internal short circuit of some suspect hydraulic fire shut-off valve actuators. The internal short circuit could lead to power supply circuit breaker popping out and in consequence the valve failing to close.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. One of the critical gaps addressed by these regulations is the need for international alignment in aircraft airworthiness standards, particularly for aircraft manufactured by foreign companies. The legislative instrument F2006B01909, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes, was introduced to mandate compliance with international safety directives, such as the French Airworthiness Directive 90-152-019 (B) for hydraulic fire shut-off valves. This was aimed at mitigating the risk of internal short circuits that could compromise the aircraft's safety. The policy objective of these regulations is to ensure that all aircraft registered in Australia meet the required safety standards, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the general public from potential hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives and applies to all Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 series aeroplanes registered in Australia. The directive mandates inspection and modification of the hydraulic fire shut-off valve as per the French Airworthiness Directive (AD) 90-152-019 (B), which was issued to address the potential issue of internal short circuits in the valve actuators. This can lead to circuit breaker tripping and subsequent valve failure to close, thereby posing a safety risk. The directive applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, and compliance must be achieved as per the specified requirement document with a revised effectivity date of 3 October 1991 for aircraft registered in Australia. This regulation is applicable to all operators of the specified Airbus models, ensuring adherence to stringent safety standards to maintain airworthiness.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specify the applicability and requirements for the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes, particularly in relation to the hydraulic fire shut-off valve (sections 10/91). These sections mandate that Airbus A320 series aircraft must be inspected and/or modified in accordance with the French Airworthiness Directive (AD) 90-152-019 (B). The French AD, referenced as Airbus Industrie All Operators Telex Ref AOT 29-04 1 June 1991 Revision 1, provides the technical specifications and procedures necessary to address the potential issue of internal short circuits in the hydraulic fire shut-off valve actuators. Compliance with these directives requires that Australian registered aircraft follow the requirements outlined in the French AD, but with a revised effectivity date of 3 October 1991.
The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties or entities it governs include ensuring that all Airbus A320 series aircraft undergo the necessary inspections and modifications to prevent internal short circuits in the hydraulic fire shut-off valve actuators. This involves following the procedures set out in the French AD 90-152-019 (B) and ensuring that these procedures are implemented with the revised effectivity date applicable to Australian registered aircraft. Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the modifications are completed by qualified personnel and that the aircraft are returned to service only after it has been verified that all required modifications have been successfully completed and that the aircraft is airworthy.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, and the corresponding French Airworthiness Directive, can result in significant legal consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but under Australian aviation law, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in civil penalties, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. In severe cases, such non-compliance could also lead to criminal charges, especially if it is determined that the non-compliance resulted in an incident or accident that caused harm or loss. Operators and individuals responsible for ensuring compliance must be diligent in following the directives to avoid these serious consequences.