AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 83/2 Cockpit Safety Harness Installation - Integrity
and Lifing
12/2003
Applicability: All DH 83 series aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Inspect integrity of the front and rear cockpit safety harness installations in accordance with Accomplishment Instruction Paragraph 2A of British Aerospace Mandatory TNS CT(Moth) No. 33 Issue 2, dated 21 March 2002.
2. Replace front and rear cockpit safety harnesses in accordance with Accomplishment Instruction Paragraph 2D of British Aerospace Mandatory TNS CT(Moth) No. 33 Issue 2 dated 21 March 2002.
Note: UK CAA AD 007-03-99 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 10 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 31 December 2003, whichever occurs first; unless the initial inspection was previously accomplished in accordance with Issue 1 or Issue 2 of the Requirement document. Inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months.
2. Within 9 years of the initial installation date of harness or, if the installation date is not known, within 150 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 27 May 2004, whichever occurs first. Replace thereafter at intervals not to exceed 9 years.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 November 2003.
De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 83/2 (continued)
Background: Investigation into a fatal accident in UK revealed that the harness restraint cables and one lap strap near the stitching, had failed during impact. Subsequent investigation revealed that the strength of the webbing had significantly deteriorated without any visual indication.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 October 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as the regulatory body for civil aviation in Australia, has issued Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 83/2 for the De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes, effective from 27 November 2003. This directive was introduced in response to a fatal accident investigation in the United Kingdom that revealed significant deterioration in the strength of the cockpit safety harness webbing, leading to failure during impact without any visual indication. The AD aims to address this unsafe condition by requiring inspections and, if necessary, the replacement of the front and rear cockpit safety harnesses in accordance with specified instructions to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft.
The directive, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, mandates inspections and replacement of the cockpit safety harnesses within specified timeframes. The primary objective is to prevent harness failures that could lead to accidents or fatalities, ensuring that all DH 83 series aircraft comply with the requirements to maintain their airworthiness. The AD outlines the necessary actions to be taken by aircraft operators to meet these safety standards, reflecting the authority's commitment to enhancing aviation safety through proactive regulatory measures.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies to all De Havilland DH 83 series aircraft operating within the Commonwealth of Australia. This directive mandates specific actions to address an identified unsafe condition concerning the cockpit safety harness installations. Specifically, the directive requires the inspection and, where necessary, the replacement of the front and rear cockpit safety harnesses to ensure compliance with the safety standards outlined. The directive is grounded in findings from a fatal accident investigation conducted in the UK, where the failure of harness components during impact was attributed to the deterioration of webbing strength without visible signs. Compliance with the directive is mandatory, with inspections required within 10 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 31 December 2003, and subsequent inspections to be conducted at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Similarly, the replacement of harnesses must occur within 9 years of the initial installation date or, if unknown, within 150 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 27 May 2004, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 9 years. This directive became effective on 27 November 2003 and was officially notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section (a) specifies that this AD applies to all DH 83 series aircraft. The requirement section (b) details the actions that must be taken regarding the cockpit safety harnesses. This includes inspecting the integrity of the front and rear cockpit safety harnesses as per Accomplishment Instruction Paragraph 2A of British Aerospace Mandatory TNS CT(Moth) No. 33 Issue 2 dated 21 March 2002 and replacing the front and rear cockpit safety harnesses as per Accomplishment Instruction Paragraph 2D of the same document. The compliance section (c) specifies the timeframes within which these actions must be completed.
The obligations imposed by this AD are stringent and require operators of DH 83 series aircraft to ensure that the specified inspections and replacements of the cockpit safety harnesses are carried out. For instance, the initial inspection and replacement must occur within specific timeframes: the inspection must be completed within 10 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 31 December 2003, and the replacement must be done within 9 years of the initial installation date or within 150 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 27 May 2004. After these initial actions, inspections must be performed at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and replacements must occur at intervals not exceeding 9 years.
Failure to comply with the AD can result in significant consequences. The AD specifies that the actions outlined are necessary to correct an unsafe condition that was identified following a fatal accident. The directive was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), and therefore, non-compliance could be considered a breach of these regulations. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself but would likely be enforced under the CASR 1998, which can include fines, enforcement notices, and potentially criminal charges for serious breaches that result in harm or endanger public safety. The severity of penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the non-compliance and the resultant impact on aviation safety.