AD/AL 60/5 - Wing Upper Skin Inspection at Aileron Hinge

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, address the need for specific safety standards in the aviation industry. One such regulation is AD/AL 60/5 concerning the inspection of the wing upper skin at the aileron hinge of Aermacchi Lockheed AL 60 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure that these specific models maintain airworthiness by identifying and rectifying potential structural issues in a timely manner. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation by mandating regular inspections to prevent in-service failures, thereby protecting both passengers and crew. The regulation applies to models AL 60 and AL 60B, requiring inspections at intervals not exceeding 25 hours’ time in service after 1 September 1971.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that the Airworthiness Directives for Aermacchi - Lockheed AL 60 Series Aeroplanes, as detailed in AD/AL 60/5, apply to all AL 60 and AL 60B models. These directives require an inspection of the wing upper skin at the aileron hinge at intervals not exceeding 25 hours’ time in service after 1 September 1971, as outlined in Aermacchi Lockheed 60 Service Bulletin No. 3. The regulations extend across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying uniformly under federal jurisdiction, and are not limited by state or territory boundaries. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in this specific directive, and compliance is mandatory for all relevant aircraft. The application and enforcement of these regulations may be further specified or extended through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly in Part 39 - 105, mandate specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. Section 39-105 focuses on the Aermacchi - Lockheed AL 60 Series Aeroplanes, with a specific directive issued under AD/AL 60/5. This directive mandates a wing upper skin inspection at the aileron hinge for models AL 60 and AL 60B (39-105(1)). This requirement is intended to ensure that any structural issues are detected and addressed promptly to maintain safety standards. The directive refers to Aermacchi Lockheed 60 Service Bulletin No. 3 as the document outlining the compliance details (39-105(2)). Compliance with these regulations necessitates that inspections occur at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service after 1 September 1971 (39-105(3)). This means that operators of these aircraft must rigorously schedule and conduct inspections within this timeframe to remain compliant with the regulations. The directive ensures that maintenance personnel are adequately trained and equipped to carry out these inspections effectively, adhering to the guidelines provided in the referenced service bulletin. Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to significant consequences. The Act imposes obligations on aircraft operators to ensure that all inspections and maintenance activities are performed as mandated (39-105(4)). Any non-compliance could result in the aircraft being grounded until the necessary inspections are conducted and any identified issues are rectified. Additionally, operators may face enforcement actions from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which could include fines or other penalties as stipulated by the regulations. The Act also delineates potential offences and penalties for breaches. Section 39-105 explicitly states that failure to adhere to the prescribed inspection intervals and procedures can result in enforcement actions. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the excerpt provided, it is known that violations of civil aviation safety directives can result in substantial fines. In severe cases, continued non-compliance might lead to more stringent actions, including the suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate, thereby prohibiting the aircraft from operating until the issues are resolved.