AD/CASA/12 - Flap Control Rod Joints

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, address a specific safety concern related to the CASA 212 Series Aeroplanes, particularly the flap control rod joints. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations were introduced to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within the country. The policy objective behind these regulations is to prevent incidents that may arise from mechanical failures, such as those involving the separation of bolts from the flap linkage, which can lead to flap control system failures and asymmetric flap conditions during retraction. The regulations require compliance with CASA Service Bulletin 212-27-22 Rev. 3 to mitigate such risks, with a specific compliance deadline set prior to 30 September 1989. This directive is a response to reports of similar incidents overseas, aligning with international safety standards and recommendations from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, govern the application of airworthiness directives for aircraft within Australia, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) being the regulatory body. One such directive, AD/CASA/12, pertains to the Casa 212 series aeroplanes and mandates compliance with CASA Service Bulletin 212-27-22 Rev. 3 concerning flap control rod joints. This directive applies to all model C-212 aeroplanes operating in Australia. It necessitates adherence to the CASA Service Bulletin, which addresses the risk of failed bolts lacking positive retention that may separate from the flap linkage, potentially causing flap control system failure and asymmetric flap conditions upon retraction. Compliance with this directive is required before 30 September 1989, reflecting the urgency and critical nature of the safety issue identified. The scope of this directive encompasses all CASA-registered aircraft within Australia, ensuring that all operators of Casa 212 aeroplanes take the necessary corrective actions to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) specifically targeting the flap control rod joints of the Casa 212 Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/CASA/12 (Section 7/89 DM). This directive applies to all models of the C-212 aeroplanes (Section 1). The primary requirement is for compliance with CASA Service Bulletin 212-27-22 Rev. 3, which details the necessary action to rectify the issue (Section 2). To ensure safety, the directive mandates that this action must be completed prior to 30 September 1989 (Section 3). The AD imposes clear obligations on the operators of the Casa 212 Series Aeroplanes. They must adhere to the specifications and guidelines provided in the CASA Service Bulletin 212-27-22 Rev. 3. This includes inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the flap control rod joints to prevent separation of bolts that lack positive retention. The directive is designed to mitigate the risk of flap control system failure and asymmetric flap conditions, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft during operation (Section 4). Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/CASA/12 may result in serious consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly detail the penalties for non-compliance with this specific AD, general non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions. These may include fines, suspension of the operator's licence, or other regulatory sanctions. The severity of the penalties is commensurate with the level of risk posed by the non-compliance and the potential impact on aviation safety (Section 5).