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.
Cargo Equipment
AD/CARGO/3 Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets and Air Cargo Nets 11/2002
DM
Applicability: Ribeco Air Cargo Nets with type certification:
11.401/51, 11.401/52, 11.401/53, 11.401/54, 11.401/55, 11.401/56, 11.401/63, and
11.401/64.
Ribeco Air Cargo Nets with JTSO approval: LBA.O.11.401/76JTSO, and LBA.O.11.401/77JTSO.
Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets with JTSO approval:
LBA.O.11.400/165JTSO, LBA.O.11.400/166JTSO, LBA.O.11.400/167JTSO, LBA.O.11.400/168JTSO.
All above mentioned Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets and Air Cargo Nets produced and were released after 26 March 2002, or produced by the Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Equipment Co. Ltd.
Requirement: Retire affected air cargo pallets and air cargo nets from service, and mark affected parts to preclude re-use.
Note 1: Affected air cargo pallets and air cargo nets have been detected with false identification plates, and a specific examination of the manufacturer’s delivery notes may be required.
Note 2: LBA AD 2002-303 refers.
Compliance: Within 7 days after the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 September 2002.
Cargo Equipment
AD/CARGO/3 (continued)
Background: German manufacturer Ribeco Cargo Equipment GmbH lost manufacturer approval under JAR-21 subpart G for the production of air cargo pallets and air cargo nets on 26 March 2002. The LBA has received information that Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Co. Ltd. has taken over production for air cargo pallets and air cargo nets without having the required authorisation. Unapproved parts are unserviceable and use could result in unsatisfactory load security.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 September 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 September 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) Cargo/CARGO/3 on 18 September 2002, targeting Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets and Air Cargo Nets that were either produced and released after 26 March 2002, or produced by the Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Equipment Co. Ltd. This directive was introduced in response to the German manufacturer Ribeco Cargo Equipment GmbH losing its manufacturer approval under JAR-21 subpart G for the production of air cargo pallets and air cargo nets on 26 March 2002. Subsequently, there was intelligence indicating that the Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Co. Ltd. had assumed production of these items without the necessary authorisation, leading to concerns about the air cargo pallets and nets being unserviceable and potentially resulting in inadequate load security. The directive mandates that affected air cargo pallets and air cargo nets be retired from service and marked to prevent reuse, with compliance required within seven days of the directive's effective date.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of CAR 1998 applies specifically to Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets and Air Cargo Nets with particular type certifications and Joint Technical Standard Order (JTSO) approvals produced and released after 26 March 2002, or produced by the Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Equipment Co. Ltd. This includes all Ribeco Air Cargo Nets with type certifications 11.401/51 to 11.401/64 and JTSO approvals LBA.O.11.401/76JTSO and LBA.O.11.401/77JTSO, as well as Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets with JTSO approvals LBA.O.11.400/165JTSO to LBA.O.11.400/168JTSO. The directive mandates that these specific air cargo pallets and nets must be retired from service and marked to preclude reuse, due to concerns over false identification plates and the risk of unsatisfactory load security. The directive is effective nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia and must be complied with within seven days of its effective date of 18 September 2002. This directive is applicable to any entity or individual in possession of the specified air cargo equipment, and failure to comply may result in the equipment being deemed unserviceable.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, specifically AD/CARGO/3, mandates that certain Ribeco Air Cargo Pallets and Air Cargo Nets must be retired from service and marked to preclude reuse. This applies to all Ribeco Air Cargo Nets with specific type certifications and JTSO approvals, as well as those produced by the Chinese manufacturer Deyang Ribeco Air Cargo Equipment Co. Ltd. and those manufactured after 26 March 2002 (subsection 1). The action required includes a thorough examination of the manufacturer's delivery notes to detect false identification plates, as noted in the requirements section (subsection 2). Compliance with this directive is to be achieved within 7 days of the AD's effective date, which is 18 September 2002 (subsection 3).
Entities and individuals governed by this AD, including aircraft operators, maintenance organisations, and air cargo handlers, must adhere to the directive's stipulations. They are required to identify the affected air cargo pallets and nets, ensure they are retired from service, and mark them appropriately to prevent their reuse. This involves a detailed inspection of delivery notes and may require cross-referencing with other documentation to confirm the authenticity and approval status of the cargo equipment. Additionally, any air cargo pallets and nets that have been identified as affected must be segregated from those that are approved and safe for use, thereby ensuring that only compliant equipment is used in air transport operations.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in severe consequences. The use of unapproved air cargo pallets and nets poses significant safety risks, potentially leading to unsatisfactory load security during transport. The directive explicitly states the necessity of adhering to its provisions to mitigate these risks. Non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including potential grounding of aircraft, fines, and other regulatory penalties. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, but they could include substantial financial penalties and possible criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to safety incidents or accidents.