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-1/31
Amdt 1
Fin Rear Spar 1/96
Applicability: All English production aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect the fin structure for cracks and corrosion in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (C1) No. 156 Issue 4. Conduct the dye penetrant inspections in accordance with CAO 108.10.
Modifications H283 and H360 performed in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 5 respectively of TNS No. 156 Issue 4, cancel the re-inspection requirements of paragraphs 3 and 5 respectively.
Compliance: Inspect in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3, and 5 within 3 years or 600 hours, whichever occurs first, since the last inspection.
Thereafter perform all the Requirement inspections at intervals not to exceed 3 years or 600 hours, whichever occurs first.
This Amendment is effective from 4 May 1996.
Background: British Aerospace has reported that cracks have been found in the fin rear spar at three critical locations, and that corrosion has been found in the internal fin structure. Amendment 1 incorporates Issue 4 of TNS No. 156, which revises paragraph 5 inspection interval from 6 years or 600 hours, to 3 years or 600 hours.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, address safety directives for civil aviation, particularly concerning the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. This legislative instrument, F2006B09012, was enacted to tackle the problem of structural integrity in De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) series aeroplanes, aiming to ensure the safety of flights by mandating specific inspections and modifications. The policy objective of this regulation is to prevent potential hazards arising from cracks and corrosion in the fin rear spar, as identified by British Aerospace, by enforcing timely and thorough inspections and necessary modifications. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) oversees the implementation of these regulations to maintain high safety standards in Australian civil aviation. This particular amendment, effective from 4 May 1996, adjusts the inspection intervals and cancels certain re-inspection requirements, enhancing the aircraft's safety and reliability.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/DHC-1/31 Amendment 1, applies to all De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) series aeroplanes produced in England. This legislation mandates that the fin structure of these aircraft must be inspected for cracks and corrosion according to the specified paragraphs of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (C1) No. 156 Issue 4. Furthermore, the inspections must comply with the dye penetrant inspection procedures outlined in Civil Aviation Order 108.10. The requirement is to conduct these inspections within three years or 600 flight hours, whichever comes first, from the last inspection. Subsequent inspections must also adhere to this interval. The amendment was made effective from 4 May 1996 and incorporates modifications H283 and H360, which cancel the re-inspection requirements for the specific paragraphs mentioned. This legislation, therefore, ensures that the safety and airworthiness of these aircraft are maintained through regular inspections and necessary modifications.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, Section 105, include a schedule of airworthiness directives concerning the De Havilland DHC-1 (Chipmunk) Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/DHC-1/31 Amendment 1, pertains to the fin rear spar and was issued on 1st September 1996. The directive applies to all English production aircraft within the series (Section 1). It mandates a thorough inspection of the fin structure to identify any cracks and corrosion, adhering to the guidelines outlined in paragraphs 2, 3, and 5 of the British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (C1) No. 156 Issue 4 (Section 2). Additionally, the dye penetrant inspections must comply with Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 108.10 (Section 3). If modifications H283 and H360 are carried out, the re-inspection requirements stipulated in paragraphs 3 and 5, respectively, are to be cancelled (Section 4). The inspection must be conducted within three years or 600 hours from the last inspection, whichever comes first, and subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding three years or 600 hours, whichever comes first (Section 5).
Entities governed by these regulations are obligated to ensure that the specified inspections are carried out diligently and in accordance with the provided technical news sheets and civil aviation orders. Specifically, they must inspect the fin structure for any signs of cracks or corrosion and must conduct dye penetrant inspections as per CAO 108.10. Should any modifications be performed, they must ensure that the re-inspection requirements are cancelled as per the directive. These inspections must be scheduled within the stipulated timeframe and repeated at the specified intervals thereafter. Non-compliance with these directives may result in significant safety risks, including potential aircraft structural failures.
Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives stipulated in Section 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to serious consequences. Specifically, non-compliance with these requirements may result in civil penalties, including fines and potential legal action. The exact penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument but are generally governed by broader civil aviation laws and regulations. Furthermore, severe non-compliance can result in criminal charges, especially if it leads to accidents or endangers flight safety. The maximum penalties for breaches under civil aviation laws can include substantial fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance.