COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
De Havilland DH 60 (Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 60/4
Amdt 1
Cockpit Lateral Tie Rods and Aircraft Structure 6/99
Applicability: All Variants of DH60 aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with the Paragraph 2.A and 2.C of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3.
2. Inspect in accordance with Paragraph 2.B of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3.
Note 1: UK CAA AD 006-10-97 refers.
Note 2: A copy of TNS 29 Issue 3 can be obtained from: The Engineering Support Manager
British Aerospace Military Aircraft and Aerostructures
Military Business Unit, Chadderton Works, Greengate, Middleton Manchester M24 1SA
England
Fax No. 44 161 955 8798
Compliance: 1. Within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last tie rod renewal, whichever occurs first. In cases where no evidence of last renewal date is found to exist, accomplish within 100 flying hours after 21 May 1998 or before 21 November 1998, whichever occurs first. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 flying hours or 18 years, whichever occurs first.
2. Within 12 calendar months after 21 May 1998, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar months; and, before further flight after a heavy landing or undercarriage trauma occurrence (as defined in TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3).
The compliance of the original issue of this Directive remains unchanged. This Amendment becomes effective on 17 June 1999.
Background: During routine maintenance on a DH 82 aircraft, it was found that the lateral fuselage tie rod at the aft position had sheared at its location with the spar attachment fitting. Subsequent investigation found the failure was a result of fatigue cracking in the thread root. This Directive requires that both lateral fuselage tie rods become “lifed items”, and introduces a procedure for the examination of the aircraft structure at annual intervals and following a heavy landing.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to Issue 3 of the Requirement Document which introduces an inspection following an undercarriage trauma event.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 21 May 1998.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, establish and enforce the standards for airworthiness of aircraft within Australian airspace. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of civil aviation by prescribing regulations that aircraft must comply with, including specific directives for the maintenance and inspection of aircraft structures. One such directive, AD/DH 60/4 Amendment 1, pertains to the De Havilland DH 60 (Moth) Series Aeroplanes and specifically addresses the inspection and maintenance of cockpit lateral tie rods and the aircraft structure. This directive was introduced to address the identified problem of fatigue cracking in the lateral fuselage tie rods, as evidenced by a failure during routine maintenance of a DH 82 aircraft. The policy objective behind this directive is to mitigate risks associated with structural integrity failures, thereby enhancing the overall safety of these aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority vested in it by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issued this amendment to ensure that all variants of DH 60 aircraft undergo regular inspections and maintenance as specified. Compliance with the directive is mandatory, with inspections required at specific intervals based on either flying hours or calendar time, and additionally following any heavy landing or undercarriage trauma. This proactive approach ensures that potential structural issues are identified and rectified before they can compromise the safety of the aircraft, thereby protecting both the crew and passengers.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, issues Airworthiness Directives that are applicable to all variants of DH 60 (Moth) series aeroplanes. This directive mandates specific actions regarding the cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure to ensure the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft. The directive requires adherence to the Accomplishment Instructions outlined in British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3. Compliance with these instructions must be achieved within prescribed timeframes: within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last tie rod renewal, whichever occurs first, and inspections must be conducted within 12 calendar months after 21 May 1998, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months. Additionally, inspections are required following a heavy landing or undercarriage trauma occurrence. This directive extends to ensuring that both lateral fuselage tie rods are treated as “lifed items” and that the aircraft structure is examined annually or after significant events. The directive remains effective from its original issue date of 21 May 1998, with Amendment 1 taking effect on 17 June 1999.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the requirements for the De Havilland DH 60 (Moth) series aeroplanes. The directive in question, AD/DH 60/4 Amendment 1, pertains to the cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure (section 1). This directive requires that action be taken in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3, particularly Paragraphs 2.A, 2.C, and 2.B, to ensure the integrity of the aircraft's structural components.
The obligations imposed by this directive are stringent and detailed. Operators of DH 60 aircraft must ensure that the lateral tie rods are addressed within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last renewal, whichever comes first. If there is no record of a previous renewal, the required action must be taken within 100 flying hours after 21 May 1998, or before 21 November 1998. Following this initial action, the inspection and maintenance of the tie rods must occur at intervals not exceeding 2,000 flying hours or 18 years (section 2). Additionally, inspections must be conducted within 12 calendar months after 21 May 1998 and at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months thereafter. These inspections are also mandated before any further flight after a heavy landing or an undercarriage trauma occurrence, as defined in TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this directive can result in significant consequences. Non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, including the imposition of civil penalties. The maximum penalty for contravening these regulations can be substantial, with fines up to $210,000 for individuals and higher for corporations, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring airworthiness and safety in aviation operations (section 3). Furthermore, continued operation of an aircraft that does not meet these airworthiness standards can result in criminal charges, with potential imprisonment for the responsible individuals or corporations. The overarching intent of these strict requirements and penalties is to ensure the highest standards of safety and compliance in civil aviation.