AD/AC-112/6 Amdt 4 - Front Seat and Shoulder Harness

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation safety and establish standards for airworthiness and aircraft operations in Australia. The Regulations were introduced to address the need for comprehensive safety regulations governing civil aviation within the country. The policy objective of these Regulations is to ensure the safety of air travel by establishing and enforcing standards for aircraft operations, maintenance, and certification. This legislative instrument, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the airworthiness of Gulfstream (Rockwell) 112 Series Aeroplanes by issuing Airworthiness Directives (AD). AD/AC-112/6 Amendment 4, titled "Front Seat and Shoulder Harness," was enacted to address the safety concerns associated with the front seat and shoulder harness systems of certain Gulfstream 112 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the aircraft and requires modifications to the front seats and belt attachments to enhance safety. Compliance with the directive must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1987, but no later than 30 June 1988. The directive was introduced in response to accidents that occurred overseas, where the seat occupants were fatally injured despite the accidents being classified as surviveable. These incidents highlighted the need for increased safety measures to compensate for the fuselage deflection phenomena of this aircraft design. The directive references Rockwell Service Bulletin SB-112-45A and Gulfstream Aerospace SB-112-70A Rev 1 as the means by which the required modifications should be carried out. The ultimate goal of this legislation is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew by mandating the implementation of safety improvements in the specified aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses Airworthiness Directives (AD) that apply to the Gulfstream (Rockwell) 112 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/AC-112/6 Amendment 4, pertains to the front seat and shoulder harness modifications for certain models of the aircraft. It applies to all models 112 and 112B with serial numbers ranging from 3 to 544 and 13000, as well as Models 112TC and 112TCA with serial numbers between 13001 and 13309. The requirement outlined in this directive mandates that the front seats and belt attachments must be modified in accordance with either Rockwell Service Bulletin SB-112-45A or Gulfstream Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-112-70A Rev 1, with compliance needed within 100 hours of time in service after 30 June 1987 but no later than 30 June 1988. This directive was amended to address issues identified in previous models, aiming to enhance safety by mitigating the risks associated with fuselage deflection phenomena, which had previously led to fatal accidents despite the seats being survivable in nature. The scope of this regulation is national, applying uniformly across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). There are no specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds mentioned within the directive itself, though it should be noted that the directive's applicability and enforcement may be further detailed in subordinate instruments or regulations issued by CASA. The directive aims to ensure that the specified modifications are universally adopted across the designated aircraft fleet to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically address the Airworthiness Directives for Gulfstream (Rockwell) 112 Series Aeroplanes, notably through AD/AC-112/6 Amendment 4. This amendment mandates modifications to the front seat and shoulder harness systems for certain models of the Gulfstream 112 series. The directive applies to all models 112 and 112B with serial numbers (S/Nos) ranging from 3 to 544 and 13000, as well as models 112TC and 112TCA with S/Nos 13001 to 13309 (sections 1-2). The requirement is for these aircraft to modify their front seats and belt attachments in line with either Rockwell Service Bulletin SB-112-45A or Gulfstream Aerospace SB-112-70A Rev 1 (section 3). Compliance with these modifications must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 30 June 1987, but no later than 30 June 1988 (section 4). The obligations imposed by this Act include the necessity for aircraft operators to ensure that their Gulfstream 112 series aeroplanes meet the specified modifications. This involves reviewing the serial numbers to determine applicability and then implementing the necessary changes to the seats and belt attachments as per the referenced service bulletins. The modifications are intended to rectify issues that have previously resulted in fatal injuries despite the seats being considered minimally acceptable by the Australian National Aviation Order (ANO) 101.22. It is imperative for operators to adhere to the timelines set out in the directive to maintain compliance and ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives can result in significant consequences. The Act does not explicitly detail penalties within the provided text, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can typically lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, suspension of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other regulatory sanctions. Furthermore, failure to adhere to these directives could be considered a breach of safety regulations, potentially leading to criminal charges if it is found that the non-compliance resulted in an accident or serious safety incident. The potential civil and criminal penalties underscore the importance of strict adherence to the mandated timelines and modifications.