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
AD/CA21/3 Rudder Actuator Horn 1/96
Applicability: CA21 aircraft, serial numbers CA21004 through CA21035.
Requirement: Inspect the rudder actuator horn for drain hole in accordance with Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No.4.
Compliance: At the next inspection for issue of a Maintenance Release or within 100 hours time in service, from 4 January 1996 whichever occurs first.
Background: Skyfox advise that a number of rudder actuator horns may not have had a drain hole installed at manufacture. This AD requires a drain hole to be drilled if not already fitted.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate and ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 – 105 of these regulations details Airworthiness Directives, which are legally enforceable safety rules. The directive AD/CA21/3 pertains to Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A series aeroplanes, requiring an inspection of the rudder actuator horn for the presence of a drain hole. This directive was introduced to address the identified problem of rudder actuator horns potentially lacking a drain hole during manufacturing, as advised by Skyfox Aviation. The policy objective is to ensure that these aircraft maintain the necessary safety standards, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, apply to the operation and maintenance of aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, establishing stringent safety standards to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/CA21/3 concerning the Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A Series Aeroplanes. This regulation mandates that aircraft with serial numbers CA21004 through CA21035 must undergo an inspection of the rudder actuator horn for the presence of a drain hole in accordance with Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No. 4. Compliance with this directive is required at the next inspection for the issuance of a Maintenance Release or within 100 hours of time in service from 4 January 1996, whichever comes first. This requirement aims to address the potential issue of rudder actuator horns not being equipped with a drain hole during manufacture, thus ensuring the aircraft's continued safe operation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, includes Airworthiness Directives (AD) that govern the maintenance and safety of aircraft. One such directive is AD/CA21/3, which pertains to the Skyfox Aviation (Calair/Hedaro) CA21 and CA22A series aeroplanes. This directive focuses on the rudder actuator horn, particularly for aircraft with serial numbers ranging from CA21004 to CA21035. The directive mandates that the rudder actuator horn must be inspected for the presence of a drain hole (Section 105.01). This inspection must be conducted in accordance with the specifications provided in Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No.4. Compliance with this directive requires the inspection to occur at the next scheduled inspection for a Maintenance Release or within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service, whichever comes first, starting from 4 January 1996 (Section 105.02).
The AD/CA21/3 places specific obligations on the operators and maintenance personnel of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the rudder actuator horn inspection is performed correctly, as per the guidelines in the Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No.4. If the inspection reveals that the rudder actuator horn lacks a drain hole, the operator must arrange for the necessary modifications to be made to install the drain hole (Section 105.03). Additionally, operators must keep records of these inspections and any modifications carried out, ensuring that all changes comply with the relevant civil aviation safety standards (Section 105.04).
Failure to comply with AD/CA21/3 can result in serious consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Operators who do not adhere to the requirements of this directive may face enforcement actions from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Potential penalties for non-compliance include fines up to the maximum statutory limits for civil aviation offences, which can be substantial (Section 105.05). Additionally, continued operation of an aircraft that does not meet these airworthiness standards could lead to more severe consequences, including the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary modifications are completed and approved by CASA (Section 105.06). These measures underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain the safety and operational integrity of the aircraft.