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/3
Amdt 5
Landing Gear 4/97
Applicability: All models fitted with main landing gear spring legs P/N 40007-2/-3, 40058-1/-2 and 40086-1.
Requirement: Retire the main landing gear spring legs, the forward and aft main gear clamp block bolts and the inboard main gear large bolt.
Note: Snow Engineering Service Letters #117, #119 and FAA AD 82-06-12 refer.
Compliance: Retire the main landing gear spring legs at the number of landings listed in Table 1.
At the same time, retire the forward and aft main gear clamp block bolts and the inboard main gear large bolt.
If, during initial compliance with this directive, any or all of the components listed in the above Requirement are found to be outside the Table 1 lives, replace those components within 500 landings after 27 March 1997, or by 30 June 1997, whichever occurs first.
Table 1 - Spring Retirement Lives
Spring Part # | Thickness (in) | Aircraft Fitted | Retire at every (#LDGs) |
40007-2 | 1.0 | AT-300, -301 | 7500 |
40007-2 | 1.0 | AT-302, -400A | 6000 |
40058-1 | 1.0 | AT-300, -301 | 7500 |
40058-1 | 1.0 | AT-400, -400A | 6000 |
40058-2 | 1.19 | AT-400, -402, -402A, -402B | 10000 |
40058-2 | 1.19 | AT-301, -400A, -401, -401B | 12500 |
40007-3 | 1.12 | AT-301, -401, -401B | 12500 |
40086-1 | 1.31 | AT-501, -502, -502A, -502B, -503A | 8000 |
Where the total number of landings during a period of service has not been recorded, the number of landings for that period of service is to be calculated using a rate of 4 landings per hour time in service.
This Amendment becomes effective on 27 March 1997.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: The original directive was written to inspect for cracking of the undercarriage springs and to publish a life limitation on the springs after a number of failures. Since initial issue of the directive and subsequent amendments, service history and the introduction of a bolt retirement life have led to a need to reassess the directive.
This amendment deletes the retirement life based on flight hours, as the cause of failure is driven by number of landings.
Amendment 4 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 30 January 1997. Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 August 1995. The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on
30 September 1982.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITYSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, introduces specific directives for the Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes, focusing on the retirement of certain landing gear components. This legislation, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, was designed to address safety concerns related to the structural integrity of landing gear components in these aircraft models. The objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by mandating the retirement of specified parts after a certain number of landings, thereby reducing the risk of in-flight failures. The directive applies to all models equipped with particular main landing gear spring legs and requires compliance with the outlined retirement schedules to maintain the safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate that all Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 Series aeroplanes fitted with certain main landing gear spring legs, namely P/N 40007-2/-3, 40058-1/-2, and 40086-1, must comply with the airworthiness directive concerning the retirement of these components. The directive applies to all aircraft models that have these specific parts installed. The requirement necessitates the retirement of the specified main landing gear spring legs, forward and aft main gear clamp block bolts, and the inboard main gear large bolt based on a set number of landings, as detailed in Table 1. This directive is a regulatory measure to ensure the continued safety of the aircraft by addressing known issues with these components, as referenced in Snow Engineering Service Letters and FAA AD 82-06-12. The directive applies nationally across Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Compliance must be achieved by retiring the parts at the specified landing counts or replacing them within 500 landings after 27 March 1997, or by 30 June 1997, whichever comes first. This regulatory framework ensures that the aviation industry adheres to safety standards by mandating the retirement of parts that have exceeded their operational lives.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) detail specific airworthiness directives for Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the main landing gear spring legs, forward and aft main gear clamp block bolts, and the inboard main gear large bolt (sections referenced in parentheses). The directive requires the retirement of these components at specific landing thresholds, as outlined in Table 1, and mandates replacement if these components are found to be outside their designated lives during initial compliance. Compliance requires that these components be retired at specific landing numbers, which are detailed in Table 1, and if any of the components are found to be outside the designated landing lives during initial compliance, they must be replaced within 500 landings after 27 March 1997, or by 30 June 1997, whichever occurs first.
The obligations imposed on parties governed by this Act are clear and specific. Air operators must ensure that the main landing gear spring legs, the forward and aft main gear clamp block bolts, and the inboard main gear large bolt are retired at the specified landing numbers. If during initial compliance, any of these components are found to be outside the designated lives, they must be replaced within the stipulated time frame. Additionally, if the total number of landings during a period of service has not been recorded, the number of landings must be calculated using a rate of 4 landings per hour of time in service.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose both civil and potential criminal consequences for non-compliance with these airworthiness directives. Specifically, failure to adhere to the requirements set out in the directives can lead to severe penalties. The exact nature and severity of these penalties are not detailed within the provided text; however, typically, civil aviation non-compliance can result in fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges. The specific maximum penalties would need to be referred to in the broader Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations.