Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, were enacted to regulate the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. One of the legislative instruments under this regulation is the Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, AD/AT 800/4 issued on 22 August 2002 addresses a safety issue identified with the rudder control cables and fairleads of Airtractor 800 Series Aeroplanes, specifically models AT-802 and AT-802A within certain serial numbers. This directive mandates the replacement of these components to rectify an unsafe condition due to cable wear at the aft fairlead, aiming to enhance the safety of the aircraft in operation. The directive became effective on 3 October 2002, with compliance required within 500 hours of time in service from that date, unless the action had already been completed.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies specifically to Airtractor 800 Series aeroplanes, models AT-802 and AT-802A, with serial numbers ranging from 802-0001 to 802-0081. This directive mandates that the rudder control cables and fairleads must be replaced in accordance with Snow Engineering Company Service Letter No. 199, dated 30 May 2000, in order to address the issue of rudder control cable failure due to wear at the aft fairlead. The requirement must be met within 500 hours of time in service after the AD's effective date of 3 October 2002, unless the action has already been completed. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is applicable throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring the safe operation of the specified aircraft models within the national airspace.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in section 10/2002 applies specifically to Airtractor 800 Series Aeroplanes, namely the AT-802 and AT-802A models with serial numbers ranging from 802-0001 to 802-0081. This directive mandates the replacement of the rudder control cables and fairleads as per the specifications detailed in Snow Engineering Company Service Letter No. 199, dated 30 May 2000. This action is intended to rectify a reported issue of rudder control cable failure due to wear at the aft fairlead, a problem identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a related directive, FAA AD 2002-15-06 Amdt 39-12834. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties involved, particularly on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. They are required to ensure that the replacement of the rudder control cables and fairleads is carried out within 500 hours of time in service following the effective date of the directive, which is 3 October 2002. If the replacement has already been completed, the directive does not necessitate further action. The directive emphasises adherence to the detailed instructions provided in Snow Engineering Company Service Letter No. 199, ensuring that the replacement parts used are of an improved design that mitigates the risk of cable failure. Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can lead to significant legal and operational consequences. The AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can potentially result in severe civil or criminal penalties, including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. Such non-compliance can also have broader safety implications, potentially leading to incidents that endanger the safety of the aircraft, its occupants, and others on the ground. It is imperative for operators to adhere to these directives to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft and ensure compliance with safety regulations.