COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series Aeroplanes
AD/BN-2/53
Amdt 2
Primary Structure Corrosion 4/98
Applicability: All models BN-2 Series Islanders, and BN2T Turbine Islanders.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Pilatus Britten-Norman Mandatory Service Bulletin BN- 2/SB.190 Issue 3.
Note: UK CAA AD 020-02-90 refers.
Compliance: As specified in the requirement document
The compliance periods of the previous issue of this Directive remain unchanged. This amendment becomes effective on 26 March 1998.
Background: The manufacturer has determined that the recommended inspections had only been partially successful in controlling major corrosion.
Amendment 1 provided additional information and actions, and incorporated the active parts of earlier service bulletins for the purpose of centralising all effective information relating to corrosion.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to Issue 3 of the requirement document which gives clearer inspection and repair procedures for corrosion control.
Amendment 1 of this airworthiness directive became effective on 4 March 1993.
The original issue of this airworthiness directive became effective on 30 March 1990.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to establish and enforce regulations governing civil aviation safety in Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which is essential for ensuring the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australian airspace. One such directive, AD/BN-2/53, specifically targets the Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series aeroplanes, commonly known as Islanders and BN2T Turbine Islanders, addressing issues related to primary structure corrosion. The directive was introduced to mitigate risks associated with inadequate corrosion control measures, which had previously led to significant structural issues. The policy objective behind AD/BN-2/53 is to mandate regular inspections and repairs to ensure the structural integrity of these aircraft, thereby enhancing flight safety and reliability. The directive's amendments reflect ongoing efforts to refine and clarify the necessary actions required by operators to comply with the latest inspection and repair standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series aeroplanes, including all models of BN-2 Series Islanders and BN2T Turbine Islanders. This legislative instrument applies to aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel involved with the specified models, ensuring they comply with mandatory service bulletins and airworthiness directives to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, as it falls under the Commonwealth of Australia’s regulatory framework. The directive mandates actions in accordance with the Pilatus Britten-Norman Mandatory Service Bulletin BN-2/SB.190 Issue 3, which provides detailed inspection and repair procedures to control major corrosion. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and must be adhered to as specified within the requirement document. The Civil Aviation Regulations extend and enforce compliance through subordinate instruments, such as service bulletins and airworthiness directives, which provide specific operational guidelines and safety measures that must be followed by the relevant industry stakeholders.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) detail specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of the Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2 Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on preventing primary structure corrosion. Section AD/BN-2/53 Amendment 2 mandates that all BN-2 Series Islanders and BN2T Turbine Islanders must adhere to the procedures outlined in Pilatus Britten-Norman Mandatory Service Bulletin BN-2/SB.190 Issue 3. This directive responds to the inadequacies of previous inspections and aims to centralise effective corrosion control measures. Compliance with this directive requires following the specific inspection and repair procedures detailed in the service bulletin, ensuring that all recommended actions are carried out to mitigate the risk of structural corrosion.
The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations on the operators and maintainers of the BN-2 Series Aeroplanes. Firstly, these entities must ensure that all inspections and repairs are performed in accordance with the procedures specified in the Pilatus Britten-Norman Mandatory Service Bulletin BN-2/SB.190 Issue 3. This includes conducting detailed visual and structural inspections to identify any signs of corrosion and implementing the prescribed repair actions to address any identified issues. Additionally, operators and maintainers must maintain accurate records of all inspections and repairs carried out, which may be required for verification by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and legal repercussions.
Breach of the requirements stipulated in the Civil Aviation Regulations can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Operators and maintainers who fail to comply with the airworthiness directives for the BN-2 Series Aeroplanes may face enforcement actions by CASA, which could include fines, suspension or revocation of operating certificates, or other regulatory sanctions. In cases where non-compliance leads to an accident or incident, the responsible parties could also be subject to criminal charges, including imprisonment, particularly if gross negligence or willful disregard of safety regulations is demonstrated. The exact penalties for breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations are determined by the severity of the non-compliance and the specific circumstances of the case, with potential maximum penalties outlined in relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.