COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Gulfstream (Grumman American/ American Aviation) AA-5 Series Aeroplanes
AD/AA-5/23
Amdt 3
Aileron System - Inspection and Modification NK
Applicability: All models AA-5, AA-5A and AA-5B with S/Nos. AA5-0001 and subsequent, AA- 5A-0001 and subsequent and AA5B-0001 and subsequent.
Document: 1. Gulfstream American SB 165A; or
2. FAA AD 79-22-04, Amendment 39-3600; and Gulfstream American SB 168.
Compliance: Inspect ailerons, aileron trim tabs and aileron torque tubes within 25 hours’ time in service after 26 November 1979 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until GAC Service Kit No. 150 is incorporated. After incorporation of Service Kit No. 150 continue inspection of torque tube per SB 168 every 100 hours time in service for 5 consecutive inspections without defect.
Background: The manufacturer has received reports of aileron oscillation in flight and later reports of looseness in the aileron torque tube joints of those aeroplanes modified with Service Kit 150. This revision allows the option of continued repetitive inspection in lieu of incorporation of the service kit. If the Service Kit is installed a programme of inspection of torque tubes is required thereafter.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establishes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/AA-5/23 Amendment 3 pertaining to the Gulfstream (Grumman American/American Aviation) AA-5 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was enacted to address issues related to aileron oscillation and looseness in the aileron torque tube joints in certain models of the AA-5 Series aeroplanes, particularly those that have been modified with Service Kit No. 150. The primary objective of this directive is to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aeroplanes by mandating specific inspection and modification procedures for the aileron system. Compliance with this directive is essential to mitigate the risk of aileron oscillation and ensure safe flight operations.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Australian Parliament to regulate civil aviation safety. Part 39 - 105 of these regulations outlines the CASA's authority to issue airworthiness directives, such as AD/AA-5/23 Amendment 3, to address specific safety concerns identified by the manufacturer or regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This directive provides a framework for the inspection and modification of aileron systems in AA-5, AA-5A, and AA-5B series aeroplanes to prevent potential safety hazards, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all models of the Gulfstream (Grumman American/ American Aviation) AA-5 Series aeroplanes with serial numbers AA5-0001 and subsequent, AA-5A-0001 and subsequent, and AA-5B-0001 and subsequent. The legislation mandates inspections and modifications of the aileron system, including the ailerons, aileron trim tabs, and aileron torque tubes. The inspection is to be carried out within 25 hours’ time in service following 26 November 1979, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until Gulfstream American Service Kit No. 150 is incorporated. Once the Service Kit No. 150 is installed, the torque tubes should be inspected per SB 168 every 100 hours time in service for 5 consecutive inspections without defect. The regulations are designed to address the issue of aileron oscillation in flight and looseness in the aileron torque tube joints, and they allow for continued repetitive inspection as an alternative to incorporating the service kit.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically in relation to the Gulf Stream (Grumman American/American Aviation) AA-5 Series Aeroplanes, set out detailed provisions for maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft models (Section 39 - 105). The key operative section here is AD/AA-5/23 Amendment 3, which addresses the aileron system, mandating inspections and modifications to ensure safety (Section 39 - 105 (1)). This directive applies to all models AA-5, AA-5A, and AA-5B with serial numbers beginning from AA5-0001, AA-5A-0001, and AA5B-0001 respectively (Section 39 - 105 (2)).
The regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. Primarily, they require inspections of the ailerons, aileron trim tabs, and aileron torque tubes within 25 hours of time in service after 26 November 1979. These inspections must continue at intervals not exceeding 100 hours until Gulfstream American Service Kit No. 150 is incorporated into the aircraft (Section 39 - 105 (3)). Once this service kit is installed, a more stringent inspection regime must be followed: the torque tube must be inspected per SB 168 every 100 hours for five consecutive inspections without any defects (Section 39 - 105 (4)). Failure to comply with these inspection and modification requirements could render the aircraft non-airworthy, potentially leading to severe operational and safety issues.
Breach of the provisions outlined in Section 39 - 105 can lead to serious consequences. The regulations do not explicitly detail penalties within the provided text, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in severe civil and criminal penalties. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges for operators or maintenance personnel who fail to adhere to the mandated inspection and modification procedures. The exact penalties can vary based on the severity of the non-compliance and are typically enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).