AD/CASA/18 - Power Quadrant Slots

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. A specific legislative instrument within this framework, F2006B04874, was introduced to address issues related to the airworthiness of CASA 212 series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the integrity of the power quadrant slots. This legislative instrument was designed to mitigate the risk of foreign objects entering the power lever quadrant, which could potentially restrict movement or cause jamming of the power levers, thereby compromising flight safety. The policy objective is to ensure ongoing compliance with airworthiness standards through regular inspections and modifications of the power control levers as necessary. Enacted by the Australian Commonwealth, this regulation mandates that operators inspect the power control levers slot protection installed in accordance with previous directives and modify the quadrant if deterioration is detected. Compliance with these directives must be achieved within specific timeframes, ensuring that the potential for foreign objects to interfere with the power levers is continually assessed and managed. This ongoing oversight is intended to maintain the safety and reliability of CASA 212 series aeroplanes operating within Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) to all CASA 212 series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/CASA/18 pertains to the inspection and modification of power quadrant slots to prevent the intrusion of foreign objects that could potentially hinder the movement of the power levers. This directive applies universally to all models within the specified series, ensuring consistent safety standards across the fleet. Compliance with AD/CASA/18 is mandatory, requiring inspections within 300 hours of time in service or three months after 15 August 1996, whichever is earlier. Subsequent inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of service or three months, whichever comes first, until modifications are made as outlined in CASA SB 212-76-08. The directive does not explicitly exclude any entities or operations but implies that all operators must adhere to the stipulated inspection and modification requirements to maintain airworthiness. The regulations are enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which has the authority to extend or restrict their application through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically in section 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. The regulation in focus, AD/CASA/18, pertains to the CASA 212 Series Aeroplanes and addresses the issue of power quadrant slots. The main operative sections of this regulation require an inspection of the power control levers slot protection installed in accordance with AD/CASA/11 and/or CASA SB 212-76-05. This inspection is to ensure that there is no deterioration to the point where foreign objects may no longer be excluded from the quadrant, potentially compromising the intent of AD/CASA/11 (Section 1). If any deterioration is detected, the regulation mandates that the quadrant must be modified in accordance with CASA SB 212-76-08 (Section 2). The obligations imposed by this regulation are clear and stringent. Operators and owners of CASA 212 Series Aeroplanes must conduct the required inspections and modifications within specific timeframes. The initial compliance must occur within 300 hours of time in service or within 3 months after 15 August 1996, whichever comes first. Thereafter, inspections and any necessary modifications must be performed at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service or 3 months, whichever occurs first, until the quadrant is modified (Section 105). This schedule ensures that the power control levers remain in a state that prevents foreign objects from causing operational issues such as restricting the movement of, or jamming, the power levers. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/CASA/18 can result in severe consequences. Although specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the regulation, non-compliance with CASA airworthiness directives can lead to civil or criminal liability under other sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Such non-compliance could potentially result in fines and imprisonment, as well as the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary modifications are made. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not comply with airworthiness directives can be considered a breach of safety regulations, potentially leading to severe penalties and the imposition of significant operational restrictions by CASA.