COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
American Champion (Aeronca, Bellanca) Series Aeroplanes
AD/CHA/9 Fuselage Structure and Control Cables 8/72
Applicability: Models 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB and 8KCAB not fitted with an approved battery box which will ensure that battery acid spillage is drained overboard.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the elevator and rudder control cables in the battery area for evidence of corrosion caused by battery acid spillage.
2. Inspect the battery compartment area for evidence of battery acid corrosion of airframe components other than control cables.
3. Install a battery box which will ensure that any acid spillage is drained overboard.
Compliance: For Paras. 1 and 2 - Within 10 hours time in service or 30 days after 29 August 1972 whichever occurs first and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours time in service until modified in accordance with Para 3.
For Para. 3 - Before 1 March 1973.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to regulate and ensure safety within the civil aviation sector. This legislation, under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to maintain high standards of safety and airworthiness across all aviation activities in Australia. A specific focus of this regulation is addressed in the Airworthiness Directives, such as AD/CHA/9 concerning American Champion (Aeronca, Bellanca) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues related to battery acid corrosion on fuselage structures and control cables, particularly in aircraft models 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, and 8KCAB not equipped with an approved battery box. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with corrosion by requiring regular inspections and the installation of a battery box to prevent battery acid spillage, ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to the American Champion (Aeronca, Bellanca) Series Aeroplanes, more precisely the models 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, and 8KCAB that are not equipped with an approved battery box designed to prevent battery acid spillage. This regulation is binding under Commonwealth law, ensuring that all relevant aircraft within its scope adhere to the stipulated safety directives to maintain airworthiness. The geographic reach of this Act extends across Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and it applies to all entities operating these specific aircraft models within the country.
The directive mandates specific inspections and modifications to ensure the integrity of the aircraft's fuselage structure and control cables, particularly in the battery area. Operators must inspect the elevator and rudder control cables, as well as the battery compartment area for signs of battery acid corrosion, within 10 hours of the aircraft being in service or 30 days after 29 August 1972, whichever comes first, and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of service time until the aircraft is modified as per the directive. Furthermore, the installation of an approved battery box to prevent acid spillage must be completed before 1 March 1973. This legislative instrument ensures that the specified aircraft meet stringent safety standards to mitigate risks associated with battery acid corrosion.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, address the airworthiness of certain American Champion aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directives (ADs). AD/CHA/9 pertains to the fuselage structure and control cables of Champion Series aeroplanes, particularly models 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, and 8KCAB not equipped with an approved battery box (sections 1 and 2). This directive mandates inspections to ensure no damage from battery acid spillage, both to control cables and other airframe components, and requires the installation of a battery box to prevent such spillage (section 3).
Operators of these aeroplanes must adhere to the inspection requirements set forth in the AD. For the elevator and rudder control cables in the battery area, and the battery compartment area for airframe corrosion, inspections must be conducted within 10 hours of the aeroplane being in service or within 30 days of the directive's issuance, whichever comes first, and then at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service until modifications are made as per paragraph 3 (section 2). Furthermore, a battery box ensuring acid spillage is drained overboard must be installed before 1 March 1973 (section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD can result in civil and criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text of the AD, the general framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations provides for enforcement actions. These can include fines, the suspension or revocation of an operator's certificate, or other regulatory actions as deemed appropriate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The maximum penalties for non-compliance with such regulations can be significant, reflecting the serious implications for air safety.