AD/AC/9 - Vertical and Horizontal Stabiliser - Spar Reinforcement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by F2006B02150, are designed to enhance the safety standards of civil aviation in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, this legislation aims to address safety concerns associated with specific aircraft models, in this case, the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/ Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) Series Aeroplanes. The regulation specifically targets the reinforcement of the vertical and horizontal stabiliser spar in certain models to ensure compliance with safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The policy objective is to mitigate the risk of structural failure, thereby safeguarding the lives of passengers and crew, as well as maintaining the integrity of the national airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the maintenance and airworthiness of the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) series aeroplanes with specific serial numbers ranging from 151 to 710, including models 500, 560, 560A, 560E, 680, 680E, and 720. The regulation mandates the reinforcement of the vertical and horizontal stabiliser spar, ensuring adherence to either Aero Commander Service Bulletin No. 50 or FAA AD 59-4-1. Compliance with these directives is required immediately, ensuring that any deficiencies are rectified without delay to maintain the aircraft's airworthiness. The geographic scope of these regulations extends to the Commonwealth level, applying uniformly across Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the provided directive, and the application is enforced strictly as per the specified models and serial numbers. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority may extend or restrict the application through subordinate instruments, ensuring the continuous enhancement of aviation safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One notable directive, AD/AC/9, pertains to the vertical and horizontal stabiliser spar reinforcement for the Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) series aeroplanes. The directive applies to certain models of these aircraft, specifically the 500, 560, 560A, 560E, 680, 680E, and 720 series, with serial numbers ranging from 151 to 710 (Section 105). Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved immediately (Section 1). The key requirement outlined in the directive is the reinforcement of the vertical and horizontal stabiliser spar in the specified aircraft models. This reinforcement must adhere to the instructions provided in either Aero Commander Service Bulletin No. 50 or the FAA AD 59-4-1. These documents detail the specific technical modifications and procedures necessary to ensure compliance with the airworthiness directive (Section 1). Entities and parties governed by this directive, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance organisations, have specific obligations under the Civil Aviation Regulations. These entities must ensure that the required reinforcement of the stabiliser spar is carried out in accordance with the specified service bulletins or FAA directive. This involves conducting a thorough inspection of the aircraft, identifying any necessary repairs or modifications, and ensuring that these are completed promptly and to the required standards (Section 1). Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can result in significant legal and financial consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose penalties for non-compliance, which can include fines and other sanctions. The severity of these penalties can vary depending on the circumstances and the extent of the non-compliance. In some cases, repeated or severe breaches may lead to more severe penalties, including potential criminal charges and imprisonment (Section 105). Ensuring adherence to the directive is therefore not only a technical requirement but also a legal obligation to avoid these serious consequences.