AD/BN-2/29 Amdt 2 - Left and Right Rudder Bar Pillar and Slider Tube Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the safety of aircraft by establishing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure that aircraft remain in a safe condition for operation. Enacted by the Australian Government and administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), these regulations are designed to rectify identified safety deficiencies and ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. This legislative instrument, F2006B04740, was introduced to address the problem of rudder bar failures in the Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series aeroplanes, specifically the BN2A model, due to fractures of the central pillar/slider tube. The directive requires inspections in accordance with B-N Group Ltd. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 111 Issue 2, reflecting the policy objective to mitigate safety risks through timely and precise regulatory measures. Enacted by the Australian Government, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended in 2002 through Airworthiness Directive AD/BN-2/29 Amdt 2, focus on ensuring the safety of BN-2 Series aeroplanes by addressing specific structural failures in the rudder bar assemblies. This legislative action was taken to respond to instances of rudder bar fractures, enhancing safety by mandating comprehensive inspections of both left and right rudder bar pillar and slider tube assemblies. The AD was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, effective from 5 September 2002, to correct the unsafe condition identified in the BN2A model aircraft, thereby safeguarding the integrity of flight operations and passenger safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the requirements for airworthiness directives in Australia, impacting the aviation industry by ensuring aircraft safety through mandatory compliance with set standards. The Airworthiness Directive AD/BN-2/29 Amdt 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, applies to Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 series aeroplanes, particularly model BN2A aircraft. This directive mandates an inspection of the left and right rudder bar pillar and slider tube assemblies, as detailed in the B-N Group Ltd. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 111 Issue 2, to prevent failures due to fractures of the central pillar/slider tube. The directive became effective on 5 September 2002, following reported instances of rudder bar failures and subsequent revisions to the inspection requirements to include both single and dual rudder bar assemblies. The directive's compliance is to be achieved in accordance with the specified requirements and timelines outlined in the relevant documentation.

Key Provisions

The key provision of this legislative instrument (F2006B04740) is the issuance of an Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998). The directive revokes the previous AD/BN-2/29 Amdt 1 and introduces AD/BN-2/29 Amdt 2, which pertains to the Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series Aeroplanes, specifically the left and right rudder bar pillar and slider tube assemblies (section 1). The directive requires an inspection of the affected aircraft model, the BN2A, in accordance with the instructions detailed in B-N Group Ltd. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 111 Issue 2 (section 2). Compliance with this directive must occur at the specified time mentioned in the requirement section, which is detailed in the requirement document (section 3). This amendment took effect on 5 September 2002 (section 4). This Act imposes specific obligations on the operators of Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series Aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that the inspections detailed in the B-N Group Ltd. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 111 Issue 2 are performed on their BN2A aircraft. This requirement extends to both left and right rudder bar assemblies, reflecting a recent discovery of the defect in co-pilot’s rudder bar installations, which were previously exempt from such inspections. The directive mandates that these inspections are to be conducted in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement document, ensuring that the identified safety concerns are addressed promptly and effectively. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive could result in severe consequences. While the specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed within the text, breaches of airworthiness directives under the CAR 1998 can lead to significant penalties under Australian law. Typically, non-compliance could result in fines, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and potentially grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken. The precise penalties could include substantial financial penalties and legal actions that could affect the operational status and reputation of the airline or aircraft operator involved.