COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) Series Aeroplanes
AD/AC/75 Main Cabin Door Fasteners - Inspection 9/81
Applicability: All models 690A and 690B with S/Nos. 11100 to 11566.
All models 690C with S/Nos. 11600 to 11670.
All models 695 with S/Nos. 95000 to 95007, 95009 to 95071.
Document: Gulfstream American Commander Division SB No. 184. Compliance: Within 25 hours’ time in service after 10 August 1981.
Background: It is possible that some cabin door fasteners may have failed completely or partially from shear loads experienced in service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through the legislative instrument F2006B02135, introduce specific airworthiness directives aimed at ensuring the safety of the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) series aeroplanes. This regulation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address the potential risk of cabin door fasteners failing under shear loads, which could compromise the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft. The directive requires inspections of certain main cabin door fasteners on specific models and serial numbers within 25 hours of their time in service after 10 August 1981, as outlined in Gulfstream American Commander Division Service Bulletin No. 184. The policy objective of this legislation is to proactively mitigate safety risks by ensuring that all affected aircraft undergo necessary inspections and repairs to prevent potential failures of cabin door fasteners.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, pertain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, addressing the safety of Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all models 690A and 690B with serial numbers between 11100 and 11566, all models 690C with serial numbers between 11600 and 11670, and all models 695 with serial numbers between 95000 and 95007, and 95009 to 95071. The directive mandates an inspection of the main cabin door fasteners to ensure compliance with safety standards, as outlined in Gulfstream American Commander Division Service Bulletin No. 184, with a compliance requirement within 25 hours of time in service after 10 August 1981. This legislation serves to mitigate the risk of cabin door fasteners failing due to shear loads encountered during operation. The scope of this regulation is geographically and jurisdictionally national, impacting the Commonwealth of Australia, and it extends to all relevant aircraft and operators within the specified serial number ranges. Subordinate instruments may further detail specific procedural requirements or additional compliance measures.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives which outlines the requirements for the maintenance and safety of certain aircraft types. In this case, AD/AC/75 pertains to the inspection of main cabin door fasteners on Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes (Section 9/81). This directive applies to all models 690A and 690B with serial numbers (S/Nos.) 11100 to 11566, all models 690C with S/Nos. 11600 to 11670, and all models 695 with S/Nos. 95000 to 95007, 95009 to 95071. The directive mandates that these inspections be conducted in accordance with Gulfstream American Commander Division Service Bulletin No. 184 and must be completed within 25 hours’ time in service after 10 August 1981.
The obligations under this directive include ensuring that the specified aircraft models undergo a thorough inspection of their main cabin door fasteners. This inspection is critical to identify any fasteners that may have failed completely or partially due to shear loads encountered during service. The inspection must be conducted by certified personnel and any findings must be documented in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Gulfstream American Commander Division Service Bulletin No. 184. Furthermore, operators must ensure that the inspections are completed within the specified timeframe to maintain compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in significant consequences. Non-compliance could potentially lead to safety hazards, including the risk of cabin door failure during flight, which could have catastrophic outcomes. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators found in breach of the Airworthiness Directives may face penalties, including substantial fines. In addition to financial penalties, non-compliance could result in the grounding of affected aircraft until the required inspections are satisfactorily completed, thereby impacting operational readiness and potentially incurring further costs. The severity of penalties and consequences underscores the importance of adhering to these safety directives to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft involved.