AD/DH 104/14 Amdt 3 - Wing/Fuselage Lower Main Root Joint - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety and efficiency within the aviation sector. The legislation, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to safeguard public safety by establishing comprehensive regulations for aircraft operations, maintenance, and airworthiness. The policy objective of these regulations is to mitigate risks associated with civil aviation activities, ensuring that all aircraft meet stringent safety standards. A specific example of such regulation is found in Part 39 - 105, which outlines the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the DH 104 (Dove) Series Aeroplanes, addressing specific safety concerns such as the inspection of the wing to fuselage lower main root joint for corrosion, fretting, and cracking. The Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 104/14 Amendment 3, applicable to all models of the Dove series, mandates detailed inspections of critical structural components to maintain airworthiness. This directive requires adherence to specific inspection techniques, such as eddy current, magnetic particle, or fluorescent magnetic particle inspections, as outlined in Hawker Siddeley Technical News Sheets. The directive aims to identify and address potential structural failures before they compromise the safety of the aircraft, thereby ensuring compliance with CASA's stringent safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all DH 104 (Dove) series aeroplanes and mandates the inspection of the wing to fuselage lower main root joint for corrosion, fretting, and cracking. This regulation ensures the airworthiness of these aircraft models, thereby contributing to the safety of civil aviation. The requirement to inspect as per Hawker Siddeley Technical News Sheet CT(104) No. 168 Issue 4, with alternatives such as magnetic particle inspection or fluorescent magnetic particle inspection in accordance with the relevant aviation regulations, provides flexibility in achieving compliance. The scope of this directive is broad, extending to all models of the DH 104 series, and is applicable regardless of where the aircraft is registered or operated within the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no exclusions or exemptions explicitly stated in the directive, meaning that all affected aircraft must comply with the inspection requirements outlined. The application of this regulation may also be extended or further defined through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional guidance or specifications to ensure adherence to the airworthiness directives.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, mandate specific requirements and procedures for ensuring the airworthiness of certain aircraft models, including the DH 104 (Dove) Series Aeroplanes. One such requirement is detailed in Airworthiness Directive (AD) DH 104/14 Amendment 3, which applies to all models of the DH 104 series. This AD specifies the need for an inspection of the wing to fuselage lower main root joint to detect any signs of corrosion, fretting, and cracking (Section 105). This inspection must be conducted in accordance with Hawker Siddeley Technical News Sheet CT(104) No. 168 Issue 4. Additionally, the regulation acknowledges alternative inspection methods, such as magnetic particle inspection to paragraph 1.2 of the previous issue of this directive, or fluorescent magnetic particle inspection in line with Airworthiness Notice (ANO) 108.8, as acceptable substitutes to the eddy current technique specified in Hawker Siddeley Technical News Sheet CT(104) No. 217 and Appendix 2 of Technical News Sheet CT(104) No. 168 Issue 4. The AD imposes clear obligations on the parties responsible for the maintenance and operation of the DH 104 series aeroplanes. These parties must ensure that the specified inspections are conducted regularly and in accordance with the guidelines provided in the Hawker Siddeley Technical News Sheets and other referenced documents. The inspections must be thorough and must comply with the procedures detailed in Technical News Sheet CT(104) No. 168 Issue 4. Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, potentially leading to grounding and other regulatory consequences. In the event of non-compliance with the provisions outlined in AD DH 104/14 Amendment 3, there can be significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is understood that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, the issuance of directives to correct the non-compliance, and in severe cases, the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as determined by CASA.