COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 82/10
Amdt 1
Cockpit Lateral Tie Rods and Aircraft Structure 6/99
Applicability: All Variants of DH82 and DH82A 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).
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.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, specifically addresses the airworthiness of DH 82 (Tiger Moth) series aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 82/10 Amendment 1. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation was introduced to address safety concerns related to the cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure of DH 82 and DH 82A variants. The directive responds to an incident where a lateral fuselage tie rod sheared due to fatigue cracking, necessitating stringent inspection protocols to prevent future occurrences. The directive mandates that these tie rods be treated as "lifed items" and requires inspections in accordance with British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3, with specific timelines for inspections and actions post maintenance or heavy landings. This regulatory measure aims to enhance the safety and reliability of these aircraft by ensuring regular and thorough structural assessments.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all variants of DH82 and DH82A aircraft within Australia and its territories. This legislation mandates the compliance with Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the inspection and maintenance of cockpit lateral tie rods and the overall aircraft structure. The requirement is to adhere to the specific instructions outlined in British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that the tie rods are inspected and renewed within certain timeframes, either after reaching 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last renewal, whichever comes first, or within 100 flying hours if the last renewal date is unknown. Additionally, inspections must be carried out within 12 months of the directive's initial date and annually thereafter, as well as following any heavy landing or undercarriage trauma. This legislation is enforced to maintain the safety standards and airworthiness of DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes in accordance with Australian civil aviation regulations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate airworthiness directives for particular aircraft models, including the DH 82 (Tiger Moth) series aeroplanes. This legislation requires the inspection and maintenance of cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure, as outlined in Amendment 1 of the AD/DH 82/10 (paragraphs 2.A, 2.B, and 2.C of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3). The amendment mandates that the inspection and any necessary action be completed within a specific timeframe, either 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last tie rod renewal, whichever comes first, or within 100 flying hours after 21 May 1998 if the last renewal date is unknown. Additionally, inspections must be conducted every 12 calendar months and before any flight following a heavy landing or undercarriage trauma. These actions are to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft, which was prompted by a documented failure of a lateral fuselage tie rod during routine maintenance.
Operators of DH 82 (Tiger Moth) series aeroplanes must comply with these directives by following the specific instructions provided in the British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3. This involves conducting the required inspections and maintenance activities as stipulated within the prescribed timeframes. Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which would prevent it from operating until the necessary inspections and repairs are completed. Compliance with these regulations is crucial to maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can result in significant legal consequences. Operators who do not adhere to the inspection and maintenance requirements may face penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges. The maximum penalties for non-compliance can vary, but they may include substantial financial penalties and imprisonment. These stringent measures are in place to ensure that all operators prioritise the safety and airworthiness of their aircraft, thereby protecting both the crew and passengers.
In addition to the potential criminal and civil penalties, non-compliance with these airworthiness directives can also lead to the suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s operating certificate. This would effectively ground the aircraft, halting all operations until the required inspections and repairs are completed and approved by the relevant authorities. Such actions are taken to ensure that all aircraft meet the highest safety standards, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry.