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/79
Amdt 2
Rudder Control Cable Fraying 11/85
Applicability: The following models with 200 hours or more time in service: Models 685 with S/Nos. 12000 to 12066.
Models 690 with S/Nos. 11001 to 11079. Models 690A with S/Nos. 11100 to 11344. Models 690B with S/Nos. 11350 to 11566. Models 690C with S/Nos. 11600 to 11731. Models 695 with S/Nos. 95000 to 95084.
Models 690D with S/Nos. 15001 to 15025 and 15029 to 15032.
Models 695A with S/Nos. 96001 to 96055, 96059 to 96061, 96064, 96065 & 96072.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Gulfstream Aerospace SB No. 195B.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, within 25 hours’ time in service after 30 November 1985 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours’ time in service until service information No. SI- 199 has been complied with.
Background: This Directive is amended to revise aircraft applicability.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, represent the cornerstone of aviation safety regulation in Australia, providing comprehensive guidelines and requirements for ensuring the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. The specific amendment under review here, AD/AC/79Amdt 2, pertains to the issue of rudder control cable fraying in certain Twin Commander series aeroplanes, specifically those with 200 or more hours of service time. This directive was enacted to address safety concerns associated with the potential failure of rudder control cables, which could critically affect the aircraft's manoeuvrability and control. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) established this directive to ensure that the affected aircraft meet specific safety standards, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety and reducing the risk of in-flight incidents. The overarching policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards within the aviation industry, ensuring the protection of passengers, crew, and the general public.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandate specific airworthiness directives for certain models of Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) series aeroplanes to address issues such as rudder control cable fraying. These directives apply to aeroplanes that have accumulated 200 hours or more of service time, specifically affecting certain serial numbers within the mentioned models. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, applying across all states and territories within Australia. This legislation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions but mandates compliance with Gulfstream Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 195B. Compliance is required within 25 hours of service after 30 November 1985, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service until service information No. SI-199 is fulfilled. The application of these directives can be extended or further clarified through subordinate instruments issued by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include detailed provisions regarding airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models. One such directive, AD/AC/79Amdt 2, concerns the rudder control cable fraying in Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) series aeroplanes. This amendment applies to particular serial numbers and models that have accumulated 200 or more hours of service (s.105). The directive is designed to address a specific safety issue related to the rudder control cables, which could potentially compromise the aircraft’s control and safety if left unchecked.
Entities and parties governed by this directive are required to comply with the action specified in Gulfstream Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 195B. The primary requirement is that corrective action must be taken within 25 hours of service time after 30 November 1985. Furthermore, these actions must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time until service information No. SI-199 is fully complied with (s.105). This ensures that the issue of rudder control cable fraying is addressed in a timely manner and that the aircraft remains airworthy and safe for operation.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive could result in severe consequences. Non-compliance with the mandated actions and timeframes can lead to serious safety risks, potentially resulting in incidents or accidents. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within this legislative instrument, it is understood that breaches of airworthiness directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can attract significant penalties. These may include fines, suspension of the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate, or even criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to an accident or endangers safety. The severity of penalties reflects the critical nature of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain aviation safety standards.