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 CASR 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 aircraft or 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.
Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A330/44 Cargo Restraint Strap Assemblies 1/2005
DM
Applicability: Model A330 series aircraft, on which cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS have been installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY.
Requirement: Revise the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), and the cargo- loading procedures of the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM), to include the following information (this may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the AFM and the WBM):
“Discontinue the use of STC ST01004NY to install Airline Container Manufacturing Company Inc., cargo restraint straps, part number 1519-MCIDS, as the only means of securing cargo to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C90c/NAS3610 pallets. Such cargo restraint straps may continue to be used a supplemental restraints to secure cargo to TSO C90c/NAS3610 pallets, or to the cargo restraint fittings in the aircraft floor, per the aircraft manufacturer’s weight and balance manuals, and within the strap rated load (5,000 lbs).”
Note 1: If the above statement has been incorporated into the general revisions of the AFM and the WBM, the general revisions may be incorporated into the AFM and WBM, and the copy of this Directive may then be removed from the AFM and WBM.
Note 2: FAA AD 2004-22-01 Amdt 39-13829 refers.
Compliance: Within 14 days after 1 December 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 December 2004.
Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A330/44 (continued)
Background: The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent shifting or unrestrained cargo in the cargo compartment, which could cause an unexpected change in the aircraft’s centre of gravity, damage to the aircraft structure and/or flight control system, a hazard to the flightcrew, and/or possible loss of controllability of the aircraft.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 November 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 1 December 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Act 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serves as the foundational piece of legislation governing aviation safety in the country. The Act was introduced to address the need for a robust regulatory framework that ensures the safety and security of civil aviation within Australia. One of the critical tools within this Act is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which are administrative actions aimed at correcting unsafe conditions in aircraft. This particular AD, AD/A330/44, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), targets a specific safety issue concerning Airbus Industrie A330 series aeroplanes equipped with certain cargo restraint strap assemblies. The directive aims to prevent potential hazards such as shifting or unrestrained cargo, which could lead to significant safety risks, including damage to the aircraft and potential loss of controllability. The policy objective behind this AD is to mandate revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual and the Weight and Balance Manual to ensure that the cargo restraint straps are used correctly and safely, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to Airbus Industrie A330 Series Aeroplanes that have cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS installed as per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY. This AD applies to any operators or owners of A330 series aircraft that have the specified STC and cargo restraint strap assemblies installed. The directive mandates revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) to include specific cargo loading procedures, essentially discontinuing the use of the mentioned STC as the sole means for securing cargo to certain pallets, while permitting its use as a supplementary restraint under certain conditions and within rated load limits. The directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies nationally across Australia as per Commonwealth legislation. Compliance with the AD is required within 14 days from 1 December 2004, with the directive becoming effective on that date. This directive aims to prevent potential safety hazards such as cargo shifting, which could compromise aircraft controllability.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive AD/A330/44 issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) applies to Airbus Industrie A330 series aeroplanes where cargo restraint strap assemblies part number 1519-MCIDS have been installed via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) ST01004NY (section 1). The requirement outlined in section 2 mandates that the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) and the cargo-loading procedures of the Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) be revised. Specifically, the directive requires these manuals to include a statement discontinuing the use of STC ST01004NY for installing the specified cargo restraint straps as the sole means of securing cargo to Technical Standard Order (TSO) C90c/NAS3610 pallets. However, these straps can still be used as supplemental restraints under certain conditions, as outlined in the directive.
The obligations imposed by this directive require operators of A330 series aircraft to ensure that their AFM and WBM are updated to reflect the directive's requirements. This involves amending the manuals to incorporate the specified statement regarding the use of the cargo restraint straps. Section 3 provides a note clarifying that if the directive's statement is included in the general revisions of the AFM and WBM, the directive itself can be removed from the manuals. The directive also references FAA AD 2004-22-01 Amdt 39-13829, indicating alignment with other regulatory bodies' directives.
Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 14 days from 1 December 2004 (section 3). Failure to comply within this timeframe could result in the aircraft being considered non-airworthy, potentially leading to grounding and operational restrictions. The directive aims to prevent issues such as shifting or unrestrained cargo, which could result in unexpected changes to the aircraft’s centre of gravity, structural damage, hazards to the flight crew, and possible loss of controllability. The directive's background section highlights the safety risks associated with non-compliance, reinforcing the importance of adhering to the specified requirements.
In terms of consequences, any breach of this directive could lead to severe penalties and legal ramifications. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally results in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, operational restrictions, and in severe cases, prosecution. The potential penalties underscore the critical nature of adhering to the directive to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.