COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 232 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CAP 232/10 Aileron Hinge Rod End Bearings 2/2003
Applicability: All CAP 232 aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with APEX Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 010803 Revision 1, dated 20 November 2002.
Note: DGAC AD 2002-604(A) refers.
Compliance: At the next annual inspection after 20 February 2003 or before 31 December 2003, whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 20 February 2003.
Background: Investigation of an in- flight incident revealed insufficient fatigue strength of the aileron hinge rod end bearings.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 December 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 29 January 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a regulatory framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. One of the key instruments under these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive (AD), which is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to mandate specific actions to address identified safety issues with aircraft or aeronautical products. The AD for CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 232 Series Aeroplanes, specifically AD/CAP 232/10 dated 20 February 2003, was introduced to address an issue of insufficient fatigue strength of the aileron hinge rod end bearings, which was identified following an in-flight incident. The directive requires compliance with the instructions in APEX Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 010803 Revision 1, dated 20 November 2002, and mandates that the necessary action be taken during the next annual inspection after 20 February 2003 or before 31 December 2003, whichever occurs first. This AD was issued to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the CAP 232 aircraft in Australian airspace.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39 - 105 applies to all CAP 232 aircraft, which are a specific series of aeroplanes manufactured by Akrotech and Mudry. This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates that corrective actions be undertaken on the aileron hinge rod end bearings to address an identified unsafe condition. The directive requires adherence to the instructions provided in APEX Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 010803 Revision 1, dated 20 November 2002, and compliance must be achieved at the next annual inspection following 20 February 2003, or before 31 December 2003, whichever is earlier. This AD extends to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and becomes effective on 20 February 2003, with notification published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 29 January 2003. The directive ensures that the safety of these aircraft is maintained by addressing the specific issue of insufficient fatigue strength in the aileron hinge rod end bearings.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39, Section 105, provide a framework for the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Section 39.1(1) empowers a delegate of CASA to issue such directives when necessary to correct unsafe conditions in aircraft or aeronautical products. The AD in question, AD/CAP 232/10, pertains specifically to the CAP Aviation (Akrotech and Mudry) CAP 232 Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the aileron hinge rod end bearings. This directive mandates that all CAP 232 aircraft must undertake corrective action as specified in APEX Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 010803 Revision 1, dated 20 November 2002. The directive references DGAC AD 2002-604(A) and requires that the action be completed at the next annual inspection after 20 February 2003 or before 31 December 2003, whichever comes first.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of CAP 232 aircraft. Primarily, these stakeholders must ensure that the corrective actions outlined in the referenced service bulletin are implemented. This involves inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the aileron hinge rod end bearings to address the identified fatigue issues. Operators must adhere to the timeline set forth in the AD, ensuring compliance by the specified deadlines. Additionally, the AD necessitates that all actions are carried out in accordance with the instructions detailed in the service bulletin, maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the AD can result in significant consequences. Under CAR 1998, non-compliance with an AD can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Specifically, operators who do not adhere to the mandated corrective actions may face penalties. The maximum penalty for non-compliance with an AD can include substantial fines and potential legal action, which may further lead to the grounding of non-compliant aircraft. Such outcomes underscore the importance of timely and accurate adherence to the AD by all relevant parties to ensure continued compliance with aviation safety standards.