AD/DH 84/2 Amdt 2 - Undercarriage Strut - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 84/2 Amendment 2, was enacted to address issues related to the maintenance and inspection of specific components of the de Havilland DH 84 (Dragon) series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument is a part of the overarching framework designed to ensure the safety and reliability of civil aviation within Australia. The problem it targets is the potential for structural failure in the undercarriage struts of these aircraft models, which could compromise flight safety. The enactment of this directive by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aims to mitigate these risks through regular and rigorous inspection and maintenance protocols. The policy objective is to mandate the regular inspection and maintenance of undercarriage body struts to ensure their integrity and reliability, thereby safeguarding the safety of aviation operations. The directive specifies that all models fitted with particular undercarriage body struts must be subject to stringent cleaning, polishing, and magnetic particle inspection at specified intervals. This is to ensure that any defects in the weld areas or adjacent regions are identified and rectified promptly. The directive mandates that any uncertainty regarding the acceptance or rejection of a strut must be resolved by the Regional Office of the Department. The overarching goal is to maintain the highest standards of airworthiness and operational safety in the civil aviation sector.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as detailed in Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies specifically to all DH 84 (Dragon) Series aeroplanes equipped with undercarriage body struts bearing part numbers AH46256A, 42656, AH42657, or 42657. This legislation is applicable to the aviation industry, particularly to operators of the specified aircraft models within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that the struts must be cleaned, polished at the weld areas, and subject to magnetic particle inspection. If there is any uncertainty about the strut's acceptance or rejection based on the inspection, the matter must be referred to the Regional Office of the Department for a final determination. Defective struts must be replaced. Compliance with these requirements is necessary within 500 hours of time in service from the last inspection and must be maintained at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service. This regulation is binding for all relevant entities operating within Australia and ensures the continued airworthiness of the specified aircraft models.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate specific requirements for the maintenance and inspection of certain models of the DH 84 (Dragon) series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the undercarriage struts. Section 1 of the Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 84/2 Amendment 2 specifies that all aeroplanes fitted with undercarriage body struts P/N AH46256A, 42656, AH42657, or 42657 must undergo regular inspections. These inspections require the struts to be cleaned, polished at the weld areas and the areas immediately adjacent to them, followed by a magnetic particle inspection to check for any defects (section 1.1). Any uncertainty regarding the acceptance or rejection of the strut should be referred to the Regional Office of the Department for a final determination (section 1.2). Additionally, any struts found to be defective must be replaced (section 1.3). Compliance with these directives is mandated within 500 hours of time in service from the last inspection and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service (section 1.4). The obligations imposed by these regulations are clear and specific, demanding that operators of the DH 84 series aeroplanes ensure regular and meticulous inspection and maintenance of their undercarriage struts. The primary obligation is to clean and polish the struts at specified weld areas, followed by a rigorous inspection using magnetic particle techniques to detect any potential defects. If there is any ambiguity in the inspection results, the operator must escalate the issue to the Regional Office of the Department for a definitive assessment. Additionally, if any strut is found to be defective, it must be promptly replaced to maintain airworthiness. This systematic approach ensures that the aeroplanes remain safe and compliant with aviation safety standards. Breaching the requirements stipulated in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to significant consequences. Non-compliance with the specified inspection and maintenance schedules can result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to aircraft malfunctions or failures during flight. The regulations do not explicitly detail the penalties for non-compliance within the provided text, but typically, violations of such critical safety directives can result in substantial fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft. These penalties are designed to enforce adherence to safety standards and to protect public safety in aviation.