COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DHC-1/16 Tailwheel Yoke Attachment Bolt - Inspection 11/66
Applicability: All models incorporating Mod. H.223. Document: Hawker Siddeley TNS Series ST(C1) No. 152.
Compliance: At intervals not exceeding 300 hours time in service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the broader legislative framework for aviation safety in Australia, were enacted to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. This particular legislation, specifically within Part 39, was introduced to address safety concerns and establish stringent standards for aircraft airworthiness, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall aviation safety. The Australian Parliament enacted these regulations to mandate compliance with international safety standards and to ensure the civil aviation industry adheres to stringent regulatory requirements. The policy objective behind these regulations is to protect the public by ensuring that all civil aircraft meet specific safety standards, thereby maintaining a high level of safety in civil aviation operations.
Within this legislative framework, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety issues identified in certain aircraft models. AD/DHC-1/16, for example, pertains to the inspection of tailwheel yoke attachment bolts in De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) Series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to ensure that these components are regularly inspected at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of service time, thereby maintaining the structural integrity and operational safety of the affected aircraft. This targeted approach ensures that specific safety concerns are addressed promptly and effectively, contributing to the overarching goal of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to the authority and scope of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in issuing airworthiness directives, such as AD/DHC-1/16 which mandates inspection of the tailwheel yoke attachment bolt for De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all models incorporating modification H.223 as documented in Hawker Siddeley Technical Notice Series ST(C1) No. 152. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory and requires inspections at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. The regulations are binding on all entities operating these aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the specified maintenance and inspection protocols are adhered to for the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. While the primary focus of the regulation is on ensuring the safety of these aircraft, it does not explicitly exclude any specific entities or circumstances, thereby encompassing all operators and operators of DHC-1 series aeroplanes within Australian jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, impose requirements for ensuring the airworthiness of certain aircraft. Section 105 of the Regulations details the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in issuing airworthiness directives. Section AD/DHC-1/16 focuses on the inspection of the tailwheel yoke attachment bolt for De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) series aeroplanes, requiring inspections at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service to ensure continued airworthiness (section 11/66).
The obligations imposed by these sections are primarily on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. They are required to comply with the specified inspection intervals for the tailwheel yoke attachment bolt as outlined in the Hawker Siddeley TNS Series ST(C1) No. 152 document. Failure to comply with these inspections can lead to significant safety risks, as the integrity of the tailwheel yoke attachment is critical to the aircraft's control and stability.
Failure to adhere to the airworthiness directives can result in severe consequences. Section 91.101 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 imposes criminal and civil penalties for breaches of the Regulations. Specifically, under section 91.101(1)(b), any person who contravenes an airworthiness directive can face fines up to $21,600 for an individual or $108,000 for a body corporate, as well as potential imprisonment. Additionally, CASA has the authority to issue infringement notices under section 91.101(2) for minor breaches, which can incur fines up to $1,080. These penalties underscore the importance of strict compliance with airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and reliability of aviation operations.