AD/AC/25 - Circuit Breaker Panel - Insulator Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which was enacted to ensure that all aircraft meet stringent safety standards. The Airworthiness Directive AD/AC/25, concerning the circuit breaker panel insulator inspection for Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes, was introduced to address potential safety issues related to the integrity of the circuit breaker panel insulators. This legislative instrument was established by the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Parliament, with the primary policy objective of enhancing the safety and reliability of these aircraft models through regular and rigorous inspections. The regulation mandates that models 520, 560, 560A, 560E, 500, and 680 with specific serial numbers undergo inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of operational service. This directive ensures that any degradation or faults in the circuit breaker panel insulators are identified and rectified promptly, thereby mitigating potential risks to flight safety. The compliance with this directive is documented in Aero Commander SL No. 123, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders adhere to the prescribed safety measures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes, encompassing models 520, 560, 560A, 560E, 500 and 680 with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 892. This regulation mandates the inspection of the circuit breaker panel insulators at intervals not exceeding 100 hours’ time in service. The scope of this legislation is clearly defined to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft models, thereby protecting the interests of the operators and passengers. The regulation applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, covering all states and territories under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The regulation does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds other than the outlined inspection intervals, thereby ensuring consistent safety standards are maintained across the board. The application of this legislation is further extended and detailed through subordinate instruments, which provide additional guidance and operational specifics to ensure compliance.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, including AD/AC/25 for the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) Series Aeroplanes (section 39.105). This legislation mandates an inspection of the circuit breaker panel insulator for the specified models: 520, 560, 560A, 560E, 500, and 680, with serial numbers from 1 to 892 (section 39.105(6/62)). The requirement applies to all Twin Commander aircraft within this range, as outlined in Aero Commander Service Letter No. 123. Compliance with this directive involves inspecting the circuit breaker panel insulator at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (section 39.105(6/62)). This means that operators and owners of the specified Twin Commander models must ensure that the circuit breaker panel insulator is inspected regularly and documented as part of their maintenance procedures. This inspection is essential to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure safety standards are upheld. Failure to comply with the inspection requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may lead to significant consequences. If an aircraft is found to be non-compliant, it could result in enforcement actions being taken by CASA. The operator or owner of the aircraft may face civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the breach. The specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text but typically include fines or other regulatory sanctions that could impact the operator's ability to fly the aircraft until the issue is resolved.