AD/CH-3/2 Amdt 1 - Aileron Mass Balance - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, introduced Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure that aircraft remain in a safe and airworthy condition throughout their operation. These regulations were enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia's Parliament to address issues related to the maintenance and safety standards of aircraft. One such AD, AD/CH-3/2, pertains to the Chrislea CH-3 Series Aeroplanes and mandates aileron mass balance inspections for all series 2 aircraft not modified according to Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 - Addendum 1. This directive aims to maintain safety standards by requiring inspections at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service, as per the regulations outlined in Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 or ANO 105.1.13.1.6.2. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating within Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically targeting the Chrislea CH-3 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all Chrislea CH-3 Series 2 aeroplanes that have not been modified in accordance with Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 - Addendum 1. The directive mandates aileron mass balance inspections at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service. The regulation's jurisdictional reach is nationwide, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation extends its application through subordinate instruments such as Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 and Airworthiness Notice No. 105.1.13.1.6.2, ensuring that all affected operators comply with the specified inspection requirements to maintain airworthiness standards. This directive is integral to ensuring the safety and compliance of the specified aircraft within the Australian aviation sector.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 105, mandate specific safety directives for various aircraft, including the Chrislea CH-3 Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/CH-3/2 Amendment 1, pertains to the inspection of aileron mass balance. This directive applies to all Chrislea CH-3 series 2 aeroplanes that have not been modified according to Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 - Addendum 1 (Section 105.1). Compliance with this directive is essential and must be carried out in accordance with either Chrislea Service Bulletin No. 5 or ANO 105.1.1.3.1.6.2 (Section 105.1.1). The inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service (Section 105.1.1.2). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. For instance, aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that all inspections of the aileron mass balance are performed in strict adherence to the outlined directives. This includes using the specified documents, Chrislea SB No. 5 or ANO 105.1.1.3.1.6.2, to guide the inspection process (Section 105.1). Moreover, operators are required to keep meticulous records of all inspections conducted to demonstrate compliance with the directive. These records must be readily available for review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) upon request (Section 105.1.1.3). Failure to comply with the directives set forth in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in serious consequences. Under Section 93 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives may be classified as an offence. The penalties for such offences can include substantial fines, with the exact amount determined by the severity of the breach. In some cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals responsible for the non-compliance. Additionally, aircraft found to be non-compliant may be grounded until the necessary inspections and modifications are completed, potentially disrupting operations and incurring further costs for the operator (Section 93). The maximum penalties for non-compliance can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of maintaining aircraft airworthiness.