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/14 Never Exceed Airspeed Limit 8/92
Applicability: AT-302 all serial numbers, AT-400 all serial numbers, AT-400A all serial numbers, AT-402 all serial numbers up to and including 402-0784, AT-402A all serial numbers up to and including 402A-0782, AT-502 all serial numbers up to and including 502- 0118 and AT-503A all serial numbers up to and including 503A-0067.
Requirement: Re-mark the Vne (Never Exceed Speed) `red line’ radial marking on Airspeed Indicators as follows:
- 119 kts IAS for AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A and AT-402 and AT-402A aircraft.
b. 133 kts IAS for AT-502 and AT-503A aircraft.
Markings above these speeds should be removed from the indicator.
Note 1: Snow Engineering Company Service Letter 91 refers.
Note 2: Appropriate Flight Manual amendments reflecting the revised Vne will be issued in due course.
Compliance: Before the issue of the next Maintenance Release or 31 October 1992, whichever occurs first.
Background: This Directive is issued following a re-evaluation of the propeller certification data by Hartzell. Compliance with this Directive provides the pilot of the aircraft with an indication of the aircraft’s upper airspeed limit, which if exceeded, will cause the propeller blades to be subjected to unacceptable stress levels.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, form a critical framework governing the operation of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39, specifically, outlines various airworthiness directives, with one such directive being AD/AT/14, which addresses the never exceed airspeed (Vne) limit for Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), this directive was introduced to ensure that pilots have accurate information regarding the maximum safe operating speed of these aircraft, thereby preventing potential structural damage to the propellers due to overspeeding. The policy objective is to enhance flight safety by providing clear and precise markings on airspeed indicators, ensuring pilots are aware of the critical speed limits to avoid. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with a specified deadline to re-mark the airspeed indicators to reflect the updated Vne limits.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued Airworthiness Directive AD/AT/14 under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which applies specifically to the Airtractor AT-300, 400 and 500 Series Aeroplanes. The directive applies to all serial numbers of the AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-502, and AT-503A aircraft, with certain serial numbers of AT-402, AT-402A, AT-502, and AT-503A specified to be subject to the directive. The requirement of this directive is to re-mark the Vne (Never Exceed Speed) 'red line' radial marking on the Airspeed Indicators to ensure that pilots are aware of the upper airspeed limit of the aircraft. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved before the issue of the next Maintenance Release or by 31 October 1992, whichever occurs first. This directive is necessary to prevent the propeller blades from being subjected to unacceptable stress levels if the upper airspeed limit is exceeded.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/AT/14, pertain to the Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes. This directive mandates the re-marking of the Vne (Never Exceed Speed) 'red line' on the airspeed indicators for specific models of these aircraft. For the AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, and AT-402A aircraft, the new Vne marking should be set at 119 knots Indicated Airspeed (IAS). For the AT-502 and AT-503A aircraft, the Vne marking should be set at 133 knots IAS. Any markings above these speeds on the airspeed indicators must be removed.
Compliance with these requirements is critical for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft. Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the re-marking of the Vne is completed before the issue of the next Maintenance Release or by 31 October 1992, whichever comes first. This requirement ensures that pilots are provided with an accurate indication of the aircraft's upper airspeed limit, preventing the propeller blades from being subjected to unacceptable stress levels.
The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Act include the re-marking of the airspeed indicators as specified and ensuring compliance within the stipulated timeframe. Operators must also ensure that any markings above the new Vne limits are removed from the airspeed indicators to avoid confusion or misinterpretation during flight operations.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/AT/14 may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, but under Australian law, violations of civil aviation regulations can result in significant fines and potential prosecution. The severity of the penalty may depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety risks or incidents.