Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of aviation activities within Australia. Among the various provisions, Part 39 - 105 specifically addresses airworthiness directives, which are essential tools for mitigating safety risks associated with aircraft. In response to a reported failure of an aluminium fin forward attachment fitting in Pacific Aerospace Corporation Cresco Series Aeroplanes, CASA issued Airworthiness Directive AD/CRESCO/6 on 7 May 2004. This directive mandates specific inspections and replacement of the fitting to prevent unsafe conditions, ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft models. The policy objective of this directive is to maintain and enhance aviation safety by promptly addressing identified structural deficiencies through regulatory oversight and enforcement.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertain to the issuing of Airworthiness Directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, AD/CRESCO/6, applies to Pacific Aerospace Corporation Cresco Series Aeroplanes, specifically Model 08-600 series aircraft equipped with aluminium fin forward attachment fitting part number 243017-2. The directive mandates inspections and repairs to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft. The requirement involves inspecting the specified fitting in accordance with the manufacturer's Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/CR/037 and checking for adjacent structural damage, with replacements or repairs to be conducted as necessary. If the fitting is found to be cracked or corroded, it must be replaced before further flight. Additionally, the directive requires the replacement of the specified aluminium fitting with a steel counterpart part number 243017-3. Compliance with these directives must occur within specific timeframes following the directive's issuance on 12 May 2004. This AD is applicable throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate (section 39.1). This AD, identified as AD/CRESCO/6, applies to Pacific Aerospace Corporation Cresco Series Aeroplanes, specifically the 08-600 series models equipped with an aluminium fin forward attachment fitting part number 243017-2 (applicability section). The AD mandates certain actions to rectify an identified unsafe condition concerning the fin forward attachment fitting. According to the requirement section, two main actions must be undertaken. Firstly, inspections must be carried out in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the Pacific Aerospace Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/CR/037, with additional inspections for corrosion or cracking of the adjacent structure, followed by necessary repairs or replacements (section on requirement 1). Secondly, the aluminium attachment fitting part number 243017-2 must be replaced with the steel attachment fitting part number 243017-3, also following the instructions in MSB PACSB/CR/037 (section on requirement 2). The AD imposes several obligations on the parties governed by it. Firstly, operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the inspections and additional checks for corrosion or cracking are carried out within 50 hours of the AD's effective date (12 May 2004) and then at intervals not exceeding 150 hours of time in service until the replacement of the fitting is accomplished (compliance section 1). Secondly, the replacement of the aluminium attachment fitting with the steel fitting must be completed within 3,000 hours of total time in service or within 150 hours after 12 May 2004, whichever occurs later (compliance section 2). Compliance with these obligations is crucial to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. Failure to comply with the AD may result in various civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not outlined in the AD itself, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, suspension or revocation of certificates, or other regulatory measures. The severity of the penalty would depend on the extent of non-compliance and the associated risk to aviation safety. It is important for all affected parties to adhere strictly to the AD to avoid any potential legal repercussions.