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/6
Amdt 1
Fuselage Fittings - Vertical Fin Front Spar Attachments - Inspection and Modification
11/83
Applicability: All models AT-300, AT-301, AT-302 with S/Nos. 0001 to 0240. Document: 1. Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter No. 26 and
2. Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter No. 47.
Note: FAA AD 83-18-01 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 100 hours time in service after 31st July 1983 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.
2. Modification - prior to 2000 hours time in service.
Background: The manufacturer reports that service history indicates cracking of attachment fittings. Amendment 1 of this AD details Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter No. 26 for the repetitive inspection and notes the issue of FAA AD 83-18-01.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, to address the safety concerns associated with the Airtractor AT-300, 400 and 500 series aeroplanes. This regulation, enacted in 1998, aims to ensure that these aircraft meet the required safety standards. The regulations were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. This particular amendment, AD/AT/6Amdt 1, was introduced to mandate inspections and modifications to the fuselage fittings, specifically the vertical fin front spar attachments, to prevent potential cracking issues which have been reported by the manufacturer. Compliance with these directives is essential to ensure the airworthiness of the specified aircraft models, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the legislative instrument F2006B02555, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 Series aeroplanes, with particular attention to the AT-300, AT-301, and AT-302 models bearing serial numbers 0001 to 0240. This regulation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates stringent safety directives regarding the fuselage fittings, particularly the vertical fin front spar attachments, to mitigate the risk of cracking in these critical components. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and requires inspections within 100 hours of time in service following 31st July 1983, with further inspections conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours. Additionally, modifications must be completed prior to reaching 2000 hours of time in service. This regulation ensures that the specified aircraft models maintain their airworthiness by adhering to the detailed inspection and modification procedures outlined in Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter No. 26 and referenced in FAA AD 83-18-01.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105 and Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, detail the mandatory safety requirements for the Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes. This legislation includes a directive, AD/AT/6Amdt 1, which addresses fuselage fittings, specifically the vertical fin front spar attachments. The directive mandates the inspection and modification of these components to ensure continued airworthiness (s. 11/83). The directive applies to all models AT-300, AT-301, and AT-302 with serial numbers 0001 to 0240.
Under this legislation, operators and owners of the specified Airtractor models must comply with the requirements outlined in Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter No. 26 and No. 47. These documents provide detailed instructions for the inspection and necessary modifications. The directive requires inspections to be conducted within 100 hours of time in service following 31st July 1983, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours. Modifications must be completed prior to reaching 2000 hours of time in service (s. 11/83). This ensures that any identified issues are addressed promptly and that the aircraft remains safe for operation.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this directive can result in serious safety implications, potentially leading to structural failure during flight. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance in this directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory measures that could impact the operator's ability to fly the aircraft legally. Operators must therefore ensure strict adherence to the inspection and modification requirements to avoid such consequences.