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/8
Amdt 1
Aileron Control - Push-Pull Rods 12/92
Applicability: All models and serial numbers except the following: S/N 401/402-0678 and subsequent, and S/N 502-0008 and subsequent.
Requirement: Inspect all aileron push/pull rods in the left and right wings for chafing and evidence of contact with wing ribs.
Note: To adequately inspect some areas it may be necessary to remove the rods.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after 30 September 1986.
Background: This one-time inspection is the result of a Major Defect Report.
During a rebuild, aileron push/pull rods from both wings were found to be chafed where the rods passed through wing lightening holes. One case was particularly severe where the rod had vibrated against the edge of a rib and penetrated the tube wall.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to information recently received from the manufacturer which addressed a production change that was incorporated at manufacture. This modification enlarged a flap bay rib lightening hole and also adjusted the pivot point of the aileron bellcrank. This Directive is amended accordingly to delete these affected aircraft from the applicability.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. One of the key components of these regulations is Part 39, which pertains to airworthiness directives. The specific legislative instrument F2006B02557, amending Airworthiness Directive AD/AT/8A, addresses a critical safety issue with the Airtractor AT-300, 400 and 500 Series Aeroplanes. This instrument was introduced to address the problem of aileron control push-pull rod chafing, which was identified as a potential safety hazard following a major defect report. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority issued this directive to mandate a one-time inspection of the aileron push/pull rods for chafing and evidence of contact with wing ribs. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by preventing potential structural failures that could arise from unchecked rod chafing.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Airworthiness Directives for Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation mandates the inspection of all aileron push/pull rods in the left and right wings for chafing and evidence of contact with wing ribs, applying to all models and serial numbers of the specified aircraft except those with serial numbers 401/402-0678 and subsequent, and 502-0008 and subsequent, due to a production change. This directive is a result of a Major Defect Report, where chafed aileron push/pull rods were discovered during a rebuild. The inspection requirement must be completed at the next scheduled maintenance release issue after 30 September 1986, and in some cases, may necessitate the removal of the rods to adequately inspect certain areas. The scope of this legislation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, with its application extending to all applicable aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to safety standards and preventing potential hazards identified through defect reports.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, detail specific requirements for the maintenance and inspection of Airtractor AT-300, 400, and 500 series aeroplanes. One such directive is AD/AT/8 Amendment 1, which pertains to the aileron control push-pull rods (section 12/92). This directive applies to all models and serial numbers of the aforementioned aeroplanes, except for S/N 401/402-0678 and subsequent, and S/N 502-0008 and subsequent (section Applicability).
The primary requirement of this directive is that all aileron push-pull rods in the left and right wings must be inspected for chafing and evidence of contact with wing ribs (section Requirement). This inspection may necessitate the removal of the rods to ensure a thorough examination. Compliance with this directive is mandated at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release issue after 30 September 1986 (section Compliance). This directive serves as a one-time inspection measure following a Major Defect Report that identified instances where the aileron push-pull rods were chafed, particularly where the rods passed through wing lightening holes, with one severe case involving a rod that had vibrated against the edge of a rib and penetrated the tube wall (section Background).
The obligations imposed by this directive require aircraft owners and operators to ensure that the specified inspection is conducted by qualified personnel. This involves meticulous examination of the aileron push-pull rods, with the potential need to dismantle parts of the aircraft to access certain areas. Operators must document the findings of these inspections and ensure any detected issues are rectified in accordance with the relevant maintenance protocols. This directive underscores the importance of maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft to ensure safety in operation.
Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in AD/AT/8 Amendment 1 can result in severe consequences. Such non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. Civil penalties may be imposed, and in more severe cases, criminal charges could be brought against the aircraft owner or operator. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations can include substantial fines and imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety. The directive thus imposes a significant responsibility on aircraft owners and operators to adhere to these safety measures rigorously.