COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
DHC-2 (Beaver) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DHC-2/31 Fuselage Station 228 Bulkhead 1/99
Applicability: All model DHC-2 Mk. I and Mk. II “Beaver” aircraft and Mk. III “Turbo Beaver” aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect the rear fuselage bulkhead at station 228 in accordance with Bombardier Inc. de Havilland Service Bulletin 2/52 or TB/60, as applicable.
If cracks are found, before further flight, replace the bulkhead, or repair the bulkhead in accordance with repair instructions from the manufacturer.
Note: Transport Canada AD CF-98-38 refers.
Compliance: Unless the initial inspection is already accomplished, before 1 December 1999; thereafter at intervals not to exceed 5 years.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 28 January 1999.
Background: Transport Canada received reports of cracks in the bulkhead at fuselage station 228 of three DHC-2 aircraft which had accumulated between 10,000 and 12,000 flight hours.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation Amendment (Airworthiness and Other Matters) Regulations 2006, address issues related to ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, is designed to fill the gap in ensuring that aircraft comply with stringent safety standards. One such specific directive under this regulation is AD/DHC-2/31, which pertains to the inspection and maintenance of the fuselage station 228 bulkhead for DHC-2 (Beaver) series aeroplanes. The objective of this directive is to prevent potential structural failures by requiring regular inspections and timely repairs or replacements of the specified bulkhead. The directive references Transport Canada's AD CF-98-38, indicating a collaborative approach to addressing safety concerns across jurisdictions. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with a specific timeline for initial inspections and subsequent periodic inspections every five years to maintain the aircraft's airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives for certain aircraft, including all model DHC-2 Mk. I and Mk. II "Beaver" aircraft and Mk. III "Turbo Beaver" aircraft. This legislation applies to the inspection and maintenance of the rear fuselage bulkhead at station 228, requiring compliance with Bombardier Inc. de Havilland Service Bulletin 2/52 or TB/60, as applicable. If any cracks are discovered during inspection, the directive mandates that the bulkhead must be replaced or repaired in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions before any further flight can occur. The compliance requirement stipulates that if the initial inspection has not already been conducted, it must be completed before 1 December 1999, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding five years. This directive became effective on 28 January 1999 in response to reports from Transport Canada about cracks in the bulkhead at fuselage station 228 of three DHC-2 aircraft, each having accumulated between 10,000 and 12,000 flight hours.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) requirements for airworthiness directives related to various aircraft types. Under this part, AD/DHC-2/31 pertains to the DHC-2 (Beaver) Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing the fuselage station 228 bulkhead (section 39-105.02). The directive applies to all model DHC-2 Mk. I and Mk. II "Beaver" aircraft and Mk. III "Turbo Beaver" aircraft (section 39-105.03). The primary requirement of this directive is to inspect the rear fuselage bulkhead at station 228 in accordance with Bombardier Inc. de Havilland Service Bulletin 2/52 or TB/60, as applicable (section 39-105.04). If any cracks are discovered during the inspection, the bulkhead must either be replaced or repaired following the manufacturer's instructions before any further flight is undertaken (section 39-105.05).
The obligations imposed by this directive necessitate that the initial inspection of the rear fuselage bulkhead at station 228 must be completed before 1 December 1999 if not already performed (section 39-105.06). Following the initial inspection, subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 5 years (section 39-105.07). Compliance with these inspections is crucial to maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The directive references Transport Canada AD CF-98-38, indicating that similar concerns were previously noted by Transport Canada regarding cracks in the bulkhead at fuselage station 228 (section 39-105.08).
In terms of the consequences for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide that failure to adhere to these airworthiness directives can lead to significant penalties. The exact nature of these penalties is not detailed within the specific provisions of AD/DHC-2/31 but generally includes both civil and criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Civil penalties can include substantial fines, while criminal penalties can result in imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of ensuring air safety. The specific maximum penalties would be determined under the relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and other applicable laws.