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/CA25/6 Gazelle Exhaust System 2/97
Applicability: CA25N Gazelle aircraft serial numbers up to and including CA25N042 not incorporating Helitech Engineering Order HEO-143.
Requirement: To detect cracking of the exhaust system which may result in exhaust gas leakage and/or failure of the exhaust system, carry out an inspection of the exhaust system in accordance with the requirements of Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) Number 14.
Compliance: Effective 30 January 1997; unless previously accomplished, within 50 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service.
Background: This Directive has been issued to require inspection of the exhaust system. The requirement follows advice from the aircraft manufacturer of several incidents of cracking in the area where the exhaust manifold inlet tube enters the muffler chamber.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, are designed to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within the country. Among the various parts and provisions within these regulations, Part 39 addresses specific directives related to airworthiness, which are critical for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. One such directive is AD/CA25/6, which pertains to the Gazelle Exhaust System for Skyfox Aviation (Hedaro) CA25 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address a problem identified by the aircraft manufacturer, Skyfox Aviation, regarding cracking in the exhaust system of certain CA25N Gazelle aircraft, which could lead to exhaust gas leakage and subsequent failure of the exhaust system. The directive mandates an inspection of the exhaust system in accordance with the Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) Number 14, with compliance required within 50 hours of the directive's effective date and at intervals not exceeding 100 hours thereafter.
The enactment of this directive by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aims to mitigate the risk of exhaust system failure, thereby ensuring the continued safety of the aircraft and its occupants. This legislative instrument underscores the commitment to maintaining stringent safety standards in civil aviation, reflecting the overarching policy objective of preventing accidents and ensuring the reliability of aircraft operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, encompasses a detailed directive for the maintenance and inspection of certain aircraft to ensure airworthiness and safety. This particular directive, AD/CA25/6, applies to Gazelle aircraft models in the CA25 series manufactured by Skyfox Aviation, specifically those with serial numbers up to and including CA25N042, unless they have already incorporated the modifications outlined in Helitech Engineering Order HEO-143. The directive mandates that an inspection of the exhaust system must be conducted to detect any potential cracking, which could lead to exhaust gas leakage or failure of the exhaust system. This inspection must be carried out in accordance with the requirements detailed in Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) Number 14. The directive came into effect on 30 January 1997 and requires that unless the inspection has already been completed, it must be performed within 50 hours of the aircraft being in service, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time. This regulation is applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) CA25/6 to address concerns about the exhaust system of CA25N Gazelle aircraft serial numbers up to and including CA25N042, specifically those not incorporating Helitech Engineering Order HEO-143 (Section 39-105.01). The directive requires an inspection of the exhaust system to detect any cracking which may result in exhaust gas leakage or failure of the exhaust system (Section 39-105.02). This inspection must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of Skyfox Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) Number 14 (Section 39-105.03). The directive became effective from 30 January 1997, and compliance is required unless the inspection has already been performed (Section 39-105.04). For aircraft that have not yet undergone this inspection, it must be completed within 50 hours of time in service, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (Section 39-105.05).
Operators of CA25N Gazelle aircraft within the specified serial numbers must ensure that the required inspections are carried out by qualified personnel. These inspections are critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and preventing potential hazards that may arise from exhaust system failures. Operators must keep detailed records of all inspections performed, including the date, the personnel who conducted the inspection, and any findings or actions taken (Section 39-105.06). Additionally, operators must ensure that any detected issues are addressed promptly and in accordance with the applicable service bulletins and manufacturer's recommendations.
Failure to comply with the requirements of AD CA25/6 can result in serious consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the inspection intervals or who fail to address any detected issues may face enforcement actions from CASA. Such actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of air operator certificates, and potential legal proceedings (Section 39-105.07). The maximum penalties for non-compliance can be substantial, reflecting the importance of maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring the safety of all persons onboard. CASA has the authority to take immediate action to ground non-compliant aircraft, which can have significant operational and financial impacts on the operator (Section 39-105.08).