COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airtractor AT-300, 400 and 500 Series Aeroplanes
AD/AT/13 Wing Spar Cap Corrosion 7/92
Applicability: Models AT-300, AT-301, & AT-302 with S/N’s 300-0001 through 301-0688; Model AT-400 with S/N’s 400-0244 through400-0415; & Model AT-400A all S/N’s.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Air Tractor Inc. Service Letter No. 90.
Note: FAA AD 92-07-14 Amdt 39-8210 refers.
Compliance: Prior to 30 September 1992; and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar months.
Background: The FAA has received three reports of badly corroded wing spar caps on the affected aircraft. The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent failure of the wing structure.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation. Among these regulations, Part 39 specifically addresses airworthiness directives which are critical for maintaining the safety of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/AT/13, pertains to the Airtractor AT-300, 400 and 500 Series aeroplanes and targets the issue of wing spar cap corrosion. This directive was introduced to address the problem of corrosion in the specified models, which could potentially lead to structural failure of the wing. The policy objective is to mandate actions to prevent such failures, ensuring the continued airworthiness of these aircraft models. Compliance with these directives is necessary to maintain safety standards and prevent incidents related to structural integrity.
The enactment of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Parliament was driven by the need to establish a robust regulatory framework governing civil aviation safety. The specific directive, AD/AT/13, responds to reports of wing spar cap corrosion in certain Airtractor models, with the aim of averting potential structural failures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has played a significant role in this directive, referencing FAA AD 92-07-14 Amdt 39-8210, and mandating actions in accordance with Air Tractor Inc. Service Letter No. 90. The directive requires compliance prior to 30 September 1992 and at intervals not exceeding 12 months thereafter, ensuring that affected aircraft are regularly inspected and maintained to the required safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses the issue of wing spar cap corrosion in Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes through AD/AT/13. This legislation applies to specific models and serial numbers of these aircraft, namely AT-300, AT-301, and AT-302 with serial numbers ranging from 300-0001 through 301-0688, AT-400 with serial numbers from 400-0244 through 400-0415, and all serial numbers for model AT-400A. The directive mandates actions in accordance with Air Tractor Inc. Service Letter No. 90 and references FAA AD 92-07-14 Amdt 39-8210 for compliance. The requirement includes conducting the specified actions before 30 September 1992 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months to ensure the prevention of wing structure failure due to corrosion, as evidenced by reports received by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The regulations apply nationally across Australia, overseen by CASA, ensuring safety standards are maintained for these specific aircraft models.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) for certain aircraft models to ensure safety. The Airworthiness Directive AD/AT/13, which pertains to the Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes, focuses on addressing corrosion in wing spar caps (s.1). This directive requires compliance with Air Tractor Inc. Service Letter No. 90, which outlines specific actions to be taken to mitigate the risk of wing structure failure due to corrosion. The directive references FAA AD 92-07-14 Amendment 39-8210 for additional guidance (s.2).
To comply with AD/AT/13, the specified models and serial numbers of the Airtractor AT-300, AT-301, and AT-302, as well as the AT-400 and AT-400A, must adhere to the action items detailed in Air Tractor Inc. Service Letter No. 90. These actions must be completed prior to 30 September 1992, and thereafter, inspections and maintenance must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months (s.3). The directive emphasises the importance of timely and regular inspections to detect and address any corrosion issues in the wing spar caps, which are critical for the structural integrity of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/AT/13 may result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can take action against operators who do not adhere to the specified directives. Non-compliance could lead to the grounding of affected aircraft, which would disrupt operations and potentially result in significant financial loss for operators (s.4). Additionally, failure to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft as mandated by these directives could lead to serious safety incidents, including potential structural failure in flight, which could endanger the lives of passengers and crew.
The regulations also impose strict penalties for non-compliance. Operators found in breach of AD/AT/13 may face significant fines and other legal repercussions. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives can include substantial financial penalties, and in severe cases, the revocation of an operator's licence. These measures are designed to ensure that all aircraft remain in a safe and airworthy condition, thereby protecting public safety and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry (s.5).