COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Skyfox Aviation (Hedaro) CA25 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CA25/4 Tail Wheel Springs 1/96
Applicability: CA25 aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect the tail wheel springs for deformation in accordance with Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No.8.
Compliance: Before the first flight of each day after 4 January 1996.
This Directive must be entered onto the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. The inspection may be performed by the pilot in command, in which case a certification is to be made by entering AD/CA25/4 against the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release. A copy of this Directive and of the Requirement Document must be carried in the aircraft.
Background: Several instances have been reported of fractured tail wheel springs. This AD requires the tail wheel springs to be inspected on a daily basis by the pilot, with replacement of the springs if deformation is discovered.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government and administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the regulations addresses Airworthiness Directives, which are mandatory requirements for the continued airworthiness of aircraft. This legislative instrument, F2006B04835, was introduced to address the problem of fractured tail wheel springs in CA25 series aeroplanes, specifically those manufactured by Skyfox Aviation (Hedaro). The policy objective is to enhance safety by ensuring the integrity of critical components such as tail wheel springs, thereby preventing potential accidents due to structural failures. Compliance with this directive requires daily inspections of the tail wheel springs, with the results documented on the Maintenance Release.
The Airworthiness Directive AD/CA25/4 mandates an inspection for deformation of the tail wheel springs in accordance with Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No. 8, to be performed before the first flight of each day following 4 January 1996. The pilot in command may perform this inspection, with appropriate certification noted on the Maintenance Release. This directive underscores the importance of regular maintenance checks to uphold the safety standards set by CASA, aiming to mitigate risks associated with compromised aircraft components.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/CA25/4 concerning Skyfox Aviation (Hedaro) CA25 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies to CA25 aircraft and mandates daily inspections of tail wheel springs for deformation in compliance with Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No. 8. The inspection must be conducted before the first flight each day following 4 January 1996, and the results must be documented on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required. This inspection can be performed by the pilot in command, who must then certify the compliance by noting AD/CA25/4 on the Daily Inspection certification of the Maintenance Release. Additionally, a copy of this directive and the relevant requirement document must be carried on board the aircraft. This regulatory requirement follows several reported incidents of fractured tail wheel springs, aiming to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft by mandating the replacement of deformed springs.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, detail the obligations and requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. Specifically, AD/CA25/4 (paragraph 1/96) pertains to the inspection of tail wheel springs on CA25 series aeroplanes manufactured by Skyfox Aviation (Hedaro). According to section (2), these inspections must be conducted daily before the first flight of the day, starting from 4 January 1996. The directive requires that any deformation of the tail wheel springs be identified using the guidelines provided in Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin No.8. This inspection can be performed by the pilot in command, who must then certify the inspection by entering AD/CA25/4 on the Daily Inspection certification on the Maintenance Release. It is also stipulated that a copy of the directive and the requirement document must be carried in the aircraft at all times.
The obligations imposed by this legislation are stringent and clear. Operators of CA25 series aeroplanes must ensure that the tail wheel springs are inspected daily to maintain safety standards. This responsibility falls on the pilot in command, who must certify that the inspection has been carried out correctly. Additionally, they must keep a copy of the directive and the requirement document accessible within the aircraft. These measures are designed to prevent any potential in-flight failures due to tail wheel spring deformation, ensuring the continued safety of all passengers and crew.
Breach of the requirements set out in AD/CA25/4 can lead to significant consequences. If an operator fails to comply with the daily inspection and certification requirements, it could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. Such non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including potential fines, suspension of the operator’s licence, or even prosecution under civil or criminal law. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided excerpt, but they can be severe and are intended to enforce adherence to the safety standards outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations.