AD/AC/72 - Main Cabin Door Bayonet Rigging - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, form a comprehensive framework to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental protection. One of the legislative instruments within these regulations is the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/AC/72 concerning the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) Series Aeroplanes. This specific directive was introduced to address a safety concern regarding the main cabin door bayonet rigging. The problem it aimed to resolve was the potential insufficient engagement of the door locking bayonets with the fuselage retaining blocks, which could compromise the integrity of the aircraft's cabin door. The policy objective is to ensure that all specified aircraft models comply with the required inspection standards to maintain airworthiness and safety. Compliance with these directives is mandatory within 25 hours’ time in service after the specified date, as outlined in Rockwell International Service Bulletin No. 176.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105, applies to all Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) Series Aeroplanes that meet certain serial number criteria, including models 680FL(P), 680T, 680V, 680W, 681, 685, 690, 690A, 690B, 690C, and 695 with specified serial number ranges. The legislation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring compliance with national safety standards. The primary focus of this directive is the inspection of the main cabin door bayonet rigging to prevent insufficient engagement with the fuselage retaining blocks, as stipulated in Rockwell International Service Bulletin No. 176. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 25 hours’ time in service after 17 October 1980. The application of these regulations is specifically tailored to ensure that the specified aircraft models adhere to stringent safety standards, and no exclusions or exemptions are provided within the text.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Twin Commander aeroplanes, specify the requirements for inspections and compliance. Section AD/AC/72 outlines the need for a thorough inspection of the main cabin door bayonet rigging (paragraph 11/80). This inspection is mandatory for specific models and serial numbers of Twin Commander aeroplanes, as detailed in the document (Rockwell International SB No. 176). The obligations imposed by these regulations require the operators of the specified aircraft to ensure that the main cabin door bayonets are adequately engaged with the fuselage retaining blocks. Specifically, operators must conduct the inspection within 25 hours of the aeroplane's time in service following 17 October 1980. This ensures that any issues with the door locking bayonets are identified and rectified promptly to maintain the aircraft's airworthiness. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in significant consequences. The regulations do not specify particular offences or penalties within the provided text, but generally, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges for operators who fail to adhere to mandatory safety directives. The seriousness of these consequences underscores the importance of timely and thorough compliance with the specified inspection requirements.