COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
DH114 (Heron) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH114/35
Amdt 2
Aircraft Life Extension NK
Applicability: All models incorporating life extension by wing modification or replacement. Document: For Series 1B aeroplanes: British Aerospace TNS Heron (114) No. M.11, Issue 2.
For Series 2 aeroplanes: British Aerospace TNS Heron (114) No. M.9, Issue 4.
Compliance: As detailed in the requirement documents.
Note: The safe lives referred to in para. 1.1 of each requirement document are superseded by those promulgated in the current issue of AD/DH114/13. The manufacturer has advised that the aircraft life cannot be extended beyond two wing spar boom lifetimes.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically focusing on DH114 (Heron) Series Aeroplanes. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, this regulation aims to address safety concerns and ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft by imposing specific directives. The policy objective is to maintain a high standard of safety in civil aviation by ensuring that all aircraft meet stringent regulatory requirements, particularly in relation to life extension and structural integrity. One such directive, AD/DH114/35 Amendment 2, targets aircraft life extension through wing modification or replacement, underscoring the importance of adhering to updated safe life parameters as outlined in the relevant technical manuals and directives issued by CASA.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate adherence to the Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning the DH114 (Heron) Series Aeroplanes, particularly AD/DH114/35 Amendment 2 related to Aircraft Life Extension. This regulation applies to all models within the DH114 series that incorporate life extension through wing modification or replacement. It is pertinent to Series 1B aeroplanes as denoted by British Aerospace TNS Heron (114) No. M.11, Issue 2, and Series 2 aeroplanes as denoted by British Aerospace TNS Heron (114) No. M.9, Issue 4. The compliance requirements are delineated in the respective requirement documents, with the caveat that the safe lives previously outlined in para. 1.1 of each requirement document are now superseded by those detailed in the current issue of AD/DH114/13. Additionally, the manufacturer has stipulated that the aircraft's operational life cannot be extended beyond two wing spar boom lifetimes, underscoring the critical nature of adherence to these directives for ensuring airworthiness and safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 105, includes specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) applicable to certain aircraft models. One such directive is AD/DH114/35 Amendment 2, which pertains to the life extension of DH114 (Heron) Series aeroplanes. This amendment applies to all models that have undergone life extension modifications or wing replacements (Section 1). The directive provides technical specifications and compliance requirements as detailed in the relevant requirement documents, which must be adhered to for Series 1B and Series 2 aeroplanes, namely the British Aerospace Technical Notes (TNS) Heron (114) No. M.11, Issue 2, and No. M.9, Issue 4, respectively (Section 2). It is crucial to note that the safe lives outlined in paragraph 1.1 of the requirement documents are superseded by the current issue of AD/DH114/13, and the manufacturer has clarified that the aircraft’s life cannot be extended beyond two wing spar boom lifetimes (Section 3).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintenance providers of the DH114 (Heron) Series aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that all modifications and replacements of wing structures are carried out in accordance with the requirements set out in the relevant technical notes and directives (Section 4). Maintenance providers are responsible for conducting the necessary inspections, modifications, and replacements as specified, ensuring that all work complies with the stipulated technical standards to maintain airworthiness (Section 5). Additionally, operators and maintenance providers must maintain records of all modifications and inspections performed, which may be required for review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (Section 6).
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/DH114/35 Amendment 2 may result in severe consequences. CASA has the authority to enforce penalties for non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Offences under these regulations can lead to civil penalties, including fines, and in some cases, criminal charges (Section 7). The maximum penalties for breaches may vary depending on the severity and nature of the offence, but they can include substantial financial penalties and, in cases of serious non-compliance, imprisonment (Section 8). It is therefore imperative for operators and maintenance providers to strictly adhere to the requirements to avoid potential legal repercussions.