COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 77/1 Wing Attachment Bolts and Nutplates 2/80 Applicability: All model 77 with S/Nos. WA-1 to WA-39, WA-41, WA-42 and WA-44 to WA-46. Requirement: Action in accordance with Beechcraft SI No. 1088.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, prior to further flight.
Background: It is possible that thread damage may have occurred to the wing attach bolts and/or the internal nut plates.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, addresses the issuance of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and compliance of aircraft operations in Australia. One such directive, AD/BEECH 77/1, pertains to the Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the inspection and potential replacement of wing attachment bolts and nutplates. This directive was enacted to mitigate the risk of thread damage, which could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The regulation was introduced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, with a clear policy objective of maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety through stringent oversight and mandatory compliance checks.
The directive applies to specific serial numbers of the Beechcraft 77 series and requires compliance in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1088, mandating that corrective actions be taken before further flights can occur unless the necessary measures have already been completed. This proactive approach ensures that potential safety hazards are identified and addressed, thereby reducing the risk of in-flight incidents.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, establish specific airworthiness directives that govern the safety standards for civil aviation operations in Australia. The regulation applies to all Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers within the range WA-1 to WA-39, WA-41, WA-42, and WA-44 to WA-46. The directive mandates compliance with Beechcraft Service Information No. 1088 to address potential thread damage to the wing attachment bolts and/or internal nut plates. This requirement must be met unless the specified action has already been completed, ensuring that these aircraft remain airworthy prior to any further flight. The regulation's jurisdiction is under the Commonwealth of Australia and thus applies nationally, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority overseeing enforcement and compliance. No exclusions or exemptions are explicitly stated in the directive, meaning it extends uniformly to all applicable aircraft within the specified serial number range.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contains provisions that are critical for ensuring the safety and compliance of certain aircraft models. One such directive is AD/BEECH 77/1, which pertains to the Beechcraft 77 (Skipper) Series Aeroplanes. This directive is applicable to all model 77 aeroplanes with specific serial numbers (WA-1 to WA-39, WA-41, WA-42, and WA-44 to WA-46) and mandates actions in accordance with Beechcraft Service Instruction No. 1088 (paragraph 1).
Under this directive, the key requirement is that any necessary action must be carried out in compliance with the specified service instruction before the aircraft can be flown again. This means that if the specified action has not already been taken, it must be completed before the aircraft is permitted to fly (paragraph 2). The background information provided indicates that there is a potential risk of thread damage to the wing attach bolts and/or internal nut plates, which necessitates this directive (paragraph 3).
The obligations imposed by this directive fall primarily on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft. They are required to ensure that all applicable aircraft are inspected and any necessary repairs or replacements are carried out in accordance with the specified service instruction. This includes verifying that the aircraft is compliant with the directive before any further flight operations are undertaken (paragraph 4).
Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/BEECH 77/1 could result in severe civil and criminal consequences. The Civil Aviation Act 1988 provides for significant penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. In particular, any person who contravenes these regulations could face fines and potential imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach, but they can be substantial, reflecting the high stakes involved in ensuring aircraft safety (paragraph 5).