AD/AC/15 - Centre Wing - Rear Spar Reinforcement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Legislative instrument F2006B02074, address the need for ensuring the airworthiness of specific models of Twin Commander aeroplanes manufactured by Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander. This legislative instrument was enacted to fill a critical gap in maintaining safety standards for these aircraft models, specifically the 680E and 720 series. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Australian Parliament, introduced this regulation to ensure compliance with necessary safety directives, particularly focusing on the reinforcement of the centre wing rear spar to prevent structural failures. The overarching policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by enforcing mandatory airworthiness directives for specified aircraft, thus protecting both passengers and crew from potential hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, as contained in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically addresses the twin commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes, with a particular focus on the reinforcement of the centre wing rear spar. This directive applies to models 680E and 720 with specific serial numbers, excluding certain serial numbers as outlined in the directive. The regulation applies to the aircraft manufacturers, operators, and maintenance service providers within the Australian Commonwealth, ensuring that all relevant parties adhere to the mandated safety improvements. This legislation ensures the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft by enforcing compliance with the specified directives, which are designed to mitigate any structural weaknesses identified in the rear spar of the centre wing. The directive does not explicitly exclude any entities or operations from its scope but is specifically targeted at the identified aircraft models and serial numbers, ensuring that any affected aircraft are promptly modified to meet the required safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) Series Aeroplanes. A key provision of this legislation is found in AD/AC/15, which mandates Centre Wing - Rear Spar Reinforcement for certain models of the Twin Commander series (section 105.05). The directive applies to models 680E and 720 with serial numbers ranging from 242 to 873, excluding 820, 850, 860, 863, 867, and 872 (section 105.05(2)). The Act imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. These include ensuring that the necessary reinforcement of the centre wing rear spar is carried out in accordance with the specified Aero Commander Service Bulletin No. 62 (section 105.05(3)). The compliance requirement is immediate, meaning that the reinforcement must be completed forthwith (section 105.05(4)). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can have serious legal and safety implications. In terms of legal consequences, the regulations provide that non-compliance with an airworthiness directive can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines up to a certain amount as prescribed under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (section 105.05(5)). Additionally, criminal penalties may apply, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach (section 105.05(6)). The exact maximum penalties are outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988, but they can be significant, reflecting the importance of maintaining aircraft airworthiness standards.