Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) were enacted to ensure that civil aviation in Australia operates at the highest possible safety standards. The regulation was established by the Australian Parliament to address the need for comprehensive safety measures and compliance across the civil aviation industry. The regulations were created to fill the gap left by previous aviation safety legislation, aiming to ensure that all aircraft and aeronautical products meet stringent safety standards. The policy objective of these regulations is to protect the safety of the public and maintain the integrity of the civil aviation system. The Airworthiness Directives under the CASR 1998 are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), a delegate of the Australian government, to mandate specific actions to address identified safety issues. These directives are designed to ensure that any unsafe conditions identified in aircraft are promptly rectified, thereby maintaining the safety of air travel.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the issue of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. This particular AD/A330/35 pertains to Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes, specifically the aileron servo control fittings attachment. The directive applies to all models of the A330-200 and A330-300 series that have incorporated either Service Bulletin A330-27-3075 or Service Bulletin A330-27-3054, except for those fitted with aileron servo-controls standard ECP 9 with large head attachment bolts incorporated in production. The requirement for compliance is outlined in DGAC AD F-2004-067, with a compliance deadline specified in the requirement document and an effective date set for 5 August 2004. This AD, which was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 July 2004, is essential for addressing reports of bush migration and cracking in the aileron servo-control actuator fittings, which could potentially lead to severe operational hazards such as control surface flutter.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD/A330/35) pertain to the Airbus Industrie A330 Series aeroplanes, specifically models A330-201 through A330-343, that have incorporated certain service bulletins or modifications in service or production. The directive requires specific actions to address issues of bush migration and cracking in the aileron servo-control actuator fittings, as outlined in the requirement section (section 1). The requirement mandates that the actions must be carried out in accordance with DGAC AD F-2004-067, and these actions must be completed by a specified date, in this case, 5 August 2004 (section 3). This AD becomes effective on the same date it is issued, 5 August 2004 (section 4). The obligations and requirements imposed by this Airworthiness Directive on the parties or entities it governs include ensuring that the specified aircraft models comply with the directive by taking corrective action on the aileron servo-control fittings as detailed in the requirement section. This involves implementing the procedures outlined in DGAC AD F-2004-067 to address the issues of bush migration and cracking, which could lead to more severe problems such as rupture and flutter of the control surface. The directive is applicable to aircraft that have incorporated Service Bulletin A330-27-3075 or Service Bulletin A330-27-3054, with the exception of those that have been produced with aileron servo-controls standard ECP 9 with large head attachment bolts. The Airworthiness Directive also outlines potential consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the text of the directive itself, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally can result in severe civil or criminal penalties under Australian aviation law. These could include fines, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and potential grounding of the affected aircraft. Such non-compliance could also lead to safety risks, impacting the operational integrity and airworthiness of the aircraft.