AD/AC/94 - Airspeed in Turbulence

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Legislation au F2006B02155 In force Legislative Instrument

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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/94 Airspeed in Turbulence 13/95 DM

Applicability: The following aircraft models and serial numbers: Models Serial Numbers

680T and 680V 1473 through 1720

 

680W 1721 through 1850

 

681 6001 through 6072

 

690 11001 through 11079

 

690A 11100 through 11344

 

690B 11350 through 11566

 

690C 11600 through 11735

 

690D 15001 through 15042

 

695 95000 through 95084

 

695A 96000 through 96100

 

695B 96201 through 96208

 

Requirement: Attach a placard on the windshield centre post in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Twin Commander Service Bulletin 220.

 

A separate direction under CAR 138(3) for incorporation of the applicable flight manual amendment is being provided to Certificate of Registration holders.

 

Note: FAA AD 95-19-18 Amdt 39-9379 refers.

 

Compliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 25 October 1995.

 

Background: This Directive is issued in response to the recent issue of the above referenced AD by the FAA. Although no limitations have changed, the country of origin regulatory authority requires a placard and a flight manual amendment to warn the pilot to observe turbulent air penetration speeds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, introduced the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the airspeed in turbulence for specific models of Twin Commander aeroplanes, particularly Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700 series. This legislation was enacted to address safety concerns related to the maximum airspeed that these aircraft should maintain during turbulence. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued this directive to ensure that pilots are adequately informed about the necessary precautions to take during such conditions. The primary policy objective is to enhance flight safety by mandating specific operational changes to the affected aircraft, thereby reducing the risk of accidents due to turbulence-related issues. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring that a placard be affixed to the aircraft's windshield and relevant flight manual amendments be incorporated within 50 hours of the directive's effective date.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as specified in PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandate the application of AD/AC/94 concerning airspeed in turbulence for Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600, and 700) Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of these aircraft, such as 680T and 680V from serial numbers 1473 to 1720, and similarly for other models and their respective serial number ranges. The directive requires that a placard be affixed on the windshield centre post in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Twin Commander Service Bulletin 220, and a flight manual amendment must be incorporated as per a separate direction under CAR 138(3). Compliance with these requirements must be achieved within 50 hours’ time in service after 25 October 1995. This regulatory action is in response to a similar directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and serves to ensure that pilots are adequately warned about turbulent air penetration speeds.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, detail Airworthiness Directives for Twin Commander (Gulfstream/Rockwell/Aerocommander 500, 600 and 700) Series Aeroplanes under AD/AC/94. This particular directive, concerning airspeed in turbulence, applies to specified models and serial numbers of these aircraft (subsection (1)). The requirement is to attach a placard on the windshield centre post in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Twin Commander Service Bulletin 220 (subsection (2)). Additionally, a separate direction under CAR 138(3) mandates the incorporation of the applicable flight manual amendment to Certificate of Registration holders (subsection (3)). This directive is a response to FAA AD 95-19-18 Amdt 39-9379, aimed at ensuring pilots are warned of the speeds associated with turbulent air penetration. The obligations imposed by this legislation include the necessity for aircraft operators to comply with the specific requirements within 50 hours of the directive’s issuance, following 25 October 1995 (subsection (4)). Compliance involves attaching the mandated placard and incorporating the relevant flight manual amendment as per the instructions provided. This ensures that all necessary safety measures are communicated to pilots effectively and that the aircraft remain airworthy under turbulent conditions. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive could result in serious safety implications, potentially leading to severe consequences for both the operators and passengers. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations generally can lead to significant civil or criminal penalties, including fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance results in an accident or serious safety incident. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and the specific regulations violated.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.