COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
DH 85 (Leopard Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 85/1
Amdt 1
Flight Limitations and Structural Inspection 13/98
Applicability: All Models DH85 series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with British Aerospace (BAe) Mandatory Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2.
Compliance: 1. For aircraft requiring aerobatic and spinning clearance:
Accomplish the instructions contained within TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 Paragraph 8B and 8D before resuming aerobatic flight, while Paragraphs 8A and 8C of TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 must be completed within 150 hours time in service after 3 December 1998 or before 3 December 1999, whichever occurs first.
2. For aircraft not requiring aerobatic and spinning clearance, including those aircraft not affected by the initial issue of this directive:
Accomplish the instructions contained within TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 Paragraphs 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D within 150 hours time in service after
3 December 1998 or before 3 December 1999, whichever occurs first.
Where the intent of the spar root inspection with bolts removed (Paragraph 8B refers) has been carried out during restoration/overhaul work prior to the issue of TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2; provided that the work carried out is equivalent to Paragraph 8B which includes wet assembly, and is substantiated by documented proof, compliance with Paragraph 8B is not required.
3. Repeat the structural inspection contained within TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 Paragraph 8A at intervals not to exceed 3 calendar years.
This amendment becomes effective on 3 December 1998.
Background: A recent accident occurred involving a Tiger Moth aircraft. The aircraft was involved in aerobatic manoeuvres and suffered structural failure. This Directive prohibited any form of aerobatic or spinning manoeuvres pending the conclusion of an accident investigation.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to Issue 2 of BAe TNS No. 32 which was issued in response to the results of the accident investigation. This Directive introduces a specific inspection to clear aerobatic and spinning manoeuvres and a structural inspection program to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 25 March 1998.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instrument F2006B08910, pertain to Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s schedule of airworthiness directives, specifically targeting DH 85 (Leopard Moth) Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was enacted to address the safety issues identified following a structural failure in a Tiger Moth aircraft during aerobatic manoeuvres, which led to an accident. The objective of this amendment is to enforce stringent flight limitations and structural inspections to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of DH 85 series aircraft. This directive was introduced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in response to findings from an accident investigation and aims to mitigate risks associated with aerobatic and spinning manoeuvres by setting clear compliance requirements based on British Aerospace Mandatory Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all models of DH85 series aircraft, commonly known as the Leopard Moth aeroplanes, within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations mandate compliance with British Aerospace (BAe) Mandatory Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 concerning flight limitations and structural inspections. For aircraft requiring aerobatic and spinning clearance, certain instructions must be completed before resuming such activities, while other specified inspections must be conducted within a 150-hour time frame following 3 December 1998 or before 3 December 1999. For aircraft not requiring aerobatic clearance, all specified instructions must be completed within the same timeframe. Compliance with certain inspections is not required if equivalent work was previously performed during restoration or overhaul, provided there is documented proof. Additionally, a repeat structural inspection must occur at intervals not exceeding three calendar years. This amendment came into effect on 3 December 1998, following an accident investigation into a structural failure during aerobatic manoeuvres.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes specific provisions for the airworthiness of DH 85 (Leopard Moth) series aeroplanes, detailed in AD/DH 85/1 Amendment 1. This amendment mandates certain flight limitations and structural inspections for all DH 85 series aircraft, as per British Aerospace (BAe) Mandatory Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2. The main operative sections of this amendment require adherence to specific instructions detailed in TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2, with particular emphasis on Paragraphs 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D.
For aircraft requiring aerobatic and spinning clearance, the instructions in TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 Paragraphs 8B and 8D must be completed before resuming aerobatic flight, while Paragraphs 8A and 8C must be completed within 150 hours of time in service after 3 December 1998 or before 3 December 1999. For aircraft not requiring aerobatic and spinning clearance, the instructions in all four paragraphs (8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D) must be completed within the same timeframe. Furthermore, if the spar root inspection with bolts removed (Paragraph 8B) has already been carried out during restoration/overhaul work prior to the issue of TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2, and if this work is equivalent to Paragraph 8B, including wet assembly, and is substantiated by documented proof, compliance with Paragraph 8B is not required. Additionally, the structural inspection outlined in TNS CT (Moth) No. 32 Issue 2 Paragraph 8A must be repeated at intervals not exceeding three calendar years.
The obligations imposed by these regulations require aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel to meticulously follow the outlined inspection and action procedures. This includes ensuring that all required inspections and maintenance actions are completed within the specified timeframes and that any equivalent work carried out prior to the issuance of the directive is adequately documented. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to significant legal and safety consequences.
Non-compliance with the airworthiness directives can result in serious legal and safety repercussions. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, failure to adhere to the stipulated flight limitations and structural inspection requirements can lead to penalties. The maximum penalties for non-compliance may include substantial fines and potential criminal charges, depending on the severity of the breach. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not meet the specified airworthiness standards can result in the grounding of the aircraft, which can have severe operational and financial implications for the operator. The overarching aim of these provisions is to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the DH 85 series aeroplanes.