AD/ANSON/14 Amdt 1 - Main Undercarriage Shock Absorber Struts and Radius Rods - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are a comprehensive set of regulations designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 addresses the authority and procedures for issuing airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules that mandate specific actions to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft. The legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent and consistent safety standards across the civil aviation industry, aiming to protect public safety and ensure the reliability of aircraft operations. The policy objective is to maintain and improve the safety standards of aircraft through regulatory oversight and mandatory compliance with specified directives, such as those outlined in the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Avro Anson and Avro 19 Series Aeroplanes.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the maintenance and inspection requirements of the Avro Anson and Avro 19 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation mandates the inspection of the main undercarriage shock absorber struts and radius rods for these aircraft types. The regulations are applicable to all persons or entities that operate these aircraft, including commercial airlines, private operators, and maintenance providers. The geographic scope of the Act is national, covering all airspace within Australia, and it is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The Act sets clear intervals for the inspection, not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, to ensure compliance with safety standards outlined in the referenced technical service bulletins (TSB No. 80 paragraph 3.8 and TSB 77). This regulatory framework ensures that the specified components of the aircraft are regularly inspected to maintain airworthiness standards, thereby enhancing safety in civil aviation within Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39, specifically under Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Avro Anson and Avro 19 series aeroplanes, include the AD/ANSON/14 Amendment 1. This amendment mandates that the main undercarriage shock absorber struts and radius rods of these aircraft types must be inspected at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The requirement is grounded in the technical service bulletins TSB No. 80, paragraph 3.8 and TSB 77, which outline the specific criteria and procedures for these inspections. Entities and individuals responsible for the maintenance and operation of Avro Anson and Avro 19 aeroplanes are obligated to ensure compliance with this airworthiness directive. This includes adhering to the specified inspection intervals and following the detailed procedures outlined in the referenced technical service bulletins. The aim is to maintain the integrity and safety of the undercarriage system, which is critical for the overall airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/ANSON/14 Amendment 1 could result in serious safety implications and potential legal consequences. Although the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance with this directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to severe consequences. These may include enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, such as fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and in extreme cases, criminal charges for those responsible for the oversight or maintenance of the aircraft. The potential penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the specified inspection intervals and procedures.