COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CA21/10 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/CA21/10
Amdt 1
Ailerons 10/2000 TX
Applicability: All CA21, CA22 and CA22A series aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Following instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person, inspect both the left and right ailerons for:
- Balance;
b. Rigging;
c. Corrosion, internal and external; and
d. Cracks in the joint between the aileron’s torque tube and its spar.
Note 1: The reason the Authority is not able to rely on the above inspections being done as part of normal maintenance is that none of the above inspections are included in the maintenance manual. That is the reason for this AD.
2. Following instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person, improve the sealing and drainage of both left and right ailerons.
3. Following instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person, inspect both the left and right ailerons for conformity with the type design of the joint between the aileron’s torque tube and its spar.
Note 2: In other words, check that the joint was built to drawing.
Compliance: For Requirement 1:
- Inspect before further flight after 24 August 2000.
- Reinspect at the times specified in the instructions approved by the CAR 35 Authorised Person.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Note 3: Inspection for corrosion and cracks is not required before further flight if the ailerons have been inspected since 7 July 2000 by a method approved by either the Authority or a CAR 35 Authorised Person. However, ailerons must be reinspected later at the times specified in instructions approved for Amendment 1 to this Airworthiness Directive by a CAR 35 Authorised Person.
Note 4: CAR 35 Authorised Persons may include in their instructions an option to modify the ailerons to avoid the need for further inspections for corrosion and cracks (Requirements 1c and 1d).
For Requirements 2 and 3: Before further flight after 7 September 2000.
Note 5: The Requirement 3 inspection is not necessary if the joint has been modified to a design approved under CAR 35. See Note 4.
This amendment becomes effective on 24 August 2000.
Background: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority received a report of the in-flight separation of the right hand aileron from a Skyfox CA25N aircraft. Investigation revealed that a failure occurred where the aileron’s torque tube attaches to its spar.
Further investigation has not been able to conclusively determine the cause of the failure. However it has revealed several potentially unsafe conditions that were not covered by the original issue of this AD. Therefore Amendment 1 expands the set of potentially unsafe conditions that must be checked before further flight. Also, in the absence of an active Type Certificate holder, Amendment 1 allows technically competent industry representatives to develop and approve their own safety solutions.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 July 2000.
Neville James Probert
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 August 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 August 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, contain provisions for issuing Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft in operation. Specifically, the Civil Aviation (Airworthiness Directives) Regulations 1998, under Part 39, mandate that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may issue such directives to address identified safety issues. The Act was introduced to address safety gaps not covered by standard maintenance and to ensure that aircraft meet required safety standards through specific directives. This legislative instrument, issued by CASA under the authority granted by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, aims to ensure the continued airworthiness of aircraft by mandating specific safety inspections and actions where necessary. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by requiring detailed inspections and corrective actions for identified safety concerns.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives for specific aircraft to ensure safety. This legislative instrument applies to all CA21, CA22, and CA22A series aircraft, which are likely operated by private or commercial aviation entities. The regulations extend to the Commonwealth level, enforcing compliance with the safety directives across the entire nation. The AD specifies that inspections and modifications must be carried out in accordance with instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person, which typically includes engineers and other qualified aviation professionals. The AD requires inspection for balance, rigging, corrosion, and cracks in the aileron’s torque tube and spar joint, as well as improvements to sealing and drainage. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, with inspections required before further flight and at specified intervals thereafter. Exemptions or alternative safety measures can be approved by CAR 35 Authorised Persons, allowing flexibility in meeting the AD requirements. This directive aims to mitigate the risk of aileron separation, ensuring the continued safety of the aircraft in operation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. These regulations mandate the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address identified safety issues in specific aircraft models. For instance, AD/CA21/10 Amendment 1 focuses on the Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A series aeroplanes. The AD requires inspections and corrective actions to address safety issues with the ailerons, which are the movable parts of the wings that control roll.
The AD applies to all CA21, CA22, and CA22A series aircraft. It mandates several actions to be taken in accordance with specific instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person. The primary requirements include inspecting both the left and right ailerons for balance, rigging, corrosion, and cracks in the joint between the aileron's torque tube and its spar. Additionally, the AD requires improving the sealing and drainage of both ailerons and inspecting them for conformity with the type design of the joint between the aileron’s torque tube and its spar.
Compliance with this AD involves several steps. Firstly, for Requirement 1, inspections must be conducted before further flight after 24 August 2000. Reinspections are required at times specified in the instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person. For Requirements 2 and 3, inspections and corrective actions must be completed before further flight after 7 September 2000. Notably, if the ailerons have been inspected since 7 July 2000 by a method approved by either the Authority or a CAR 35 Authorised Person, inspection for corrosion and cracks is not required before further flight. However, these ailerons must still be reinspected later at the times specified in the instructions approved by a CAR 35 Authorised Person.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this AD may result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to aileron failure and subsequent aircraft accidents. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with ADs generally results in the aircraft being grounded until the required actions are completed. Such actions may also lead to investigations, fines, and other regulatory actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.