AD/DH 82/4 - Q Type Harness - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by F2006B08902, address safety concerns related to the "Q" type harnesses in the DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure the airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by modifying the harness locking mechanisms. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, established this directive to mandate modifications to prevent the inadvertent operation of the release lever in flight, thus enhancing the safety of pilots and passengers. The policy objective is to maintain high safety standards by ensuring that the harness mechanisms are reliable and secure, thereby reducing the risk of in-flight accidents. The modifications required by this directive must be approved by the Secretary, with compliance mandated immediately. The approved method of compliance includes adherence to Department of Civil Aviation Drawing HH 3364- Page 6 or ANO 105.1.14.5.5.4, ensuring that all applicable aircraft meet the necessary safety criteria. This legislative action underscores the commitment to rigorous safety standards within the aviation industry, reinforcing the importance of airworthiness and operational safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's regulation AD/DH 82/4 applies to all models of the DH 82 (Tiger Moth) series aeroplanes that are equipped with “Q” type safety harnesses. This regulation mandates the modification of the harness locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent operation of the release lever during flight. Such modifications must be approved by the Secretary before they are incorporated into the aircraft. Compliance with these safety directives is required immediately, ensuring that any aeroplanes falling under this regulation are equipped with a modified and approved harness locking mechanism. The regulation's scope is specific to the design and safety of the harness within the mentioned aircraft series, and it does not extend to other models or types of aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness directives concerning the DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/DH 82/4, mandates modifications to the "Q" type safety harnesses used in these aircraft (section 105.01). This directive applies to all models equipped with "Q" type safety harnesses (section 105.02). The primary requirement is to modify the harness locking mechanism to prevent the inadvertent operation in flight of the release lever (section 105.03). Any design modifications must be approved by the Secretary before being incorporated into the aircraft (section 105.04). The regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Firstly, aircraft owners and operators must ensure that their DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes are equipped with modified "Q" type safety harnesses as per the approved designs (section 105.05). This involves either implementing the modifications as outlined in the Department of Civil Aviation Drawing HH 3364- Page 6 or adhering to the procedures specified in ANO 105.1.14.5.5.4 (section 105.06). Compliance with these requirements must be achieved forthwith (section 105.07). Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/DH 82/4 can result in various consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance can be considered a breach of airworthiness standards, which could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (section 105.08). While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument provided, general penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made (section 105.09). In severe cases, continued non-compliance could result in more stringent measures, including suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness (section 105.10).