COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Casa 212 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CASA/14 Propeller Speed and Pitch Control 4/91
DM
Applicability: All Model C-212 Series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with the Technical Requirements of FAA AD 91-03-10 Amdt 39-6883.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement Document but with a revised effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft.
Background: Inflight movement of the propeller speed and pitch settings into the ground operation mode have been reported and has caused one fatal accident. This modification will prevent use of propeller ground settings in flight.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation within Australia. One particular legislative instrument under this framework is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which aims to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft through mandatory directives. A specific instance of this is AD/CASA/14, which pertains to the propeller speed and pitch control of C-212 Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of inflight movement of the propeller speed and pitch settings into the ground operation mode, an issue that has led to accidents, including a fatal one. The policy objective of this directive is to prevent the use of propeller ground settings during flight by requiring compliance with the Technical Requirements of FAA AD 91-03-10 Amdt 39-6883, with a revised effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governs the maintenance and operation of the CASA 212 Series Aeroplanes, mandating compliance with specific technical requirements. This legislation applies to all Model C-212 Series aircraft registered in Australia, imposing stringent obligations to enhance flight safety. The directive, AD/CASA/14, focuses on the propeller speed and pitch control systems, requiring adherence to the Technical Requirements outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) AD 91-03-10 Amendment 39-6883, with a particular effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian-registered aircraft. This modification is in response to reported instances of inflight movement of propeller speed and pitch settings into the ground operation mode, which has resulted in a fatal accident. The directive aims to prevent the use of ground settings during flight, thereby mitigating potential safety hazards associated with improper propeller settings.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/CASA/14, focus on ensuring the airworthiness of the CASA 212 Series aeroplanes by addressing the issue of propeller speed and pitch control during flight. Section 39.105 of the Regulations mandates compliance with the Technical Requirements of FAA AD 91-03-10 Amendment 39-6883, which includes specific modifications to prevent the use of propeller ground settings while the aircraft is in flight (section 39.105). This directive applies to all Model C-212 Series aircraft registered in Australia and requires adherence to the specified modifications with an effectivity date of 18 April 1991 for Australian registered aircraft (section 39.105).
The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties involved, primarily focusing on ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft. Operators of CASA 212 Series aeroplanes must ensure that the propeller speed and pitch control systems are modified in accordance with the specified technical requirements (section 39.105). This includes implementing the necessary changes to prevent inflight movement of the propeller speed and pitch settings into the ground operation mode. Operators are also required to maintain records of compliance with these modifications and ensure that any aircraft maintenance or modification work is carried out by appropriately licensed personnel (section 39.105).
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/CASA/14 can result in significant civil and criminal consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the requirements may face enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Potential penalties include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, and other administrative sanctions (section 39.105). Furthermore, if non-compliance leads to an accident or incident, operators may also face criminal charges under relevant aviation safety legislation, potentially resulting in substantial fines or imprisonment. The maximum penalties can vary depending on the severity of the breach and the impact on aviation safety (section 39.105).