AD/DHC-6/25 Amdt 1 - Main Undercarriage Platen Attach Link Fittings - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Australian Parliament, address the need for comprehensive and updated regulations governing civil aviation safety, particularly concerning the airworthiness of aircraft. One of the specific amendments introduced under these regulations is the Airworthiness Directive pertaining to the DHC-6 (Twin Otter) Series Aeroplanes, aimed at ensuring that these aircraft meet the necessary safety standards. This directive, AD/DHC-6/25 Amendment 1, focuses on the inspection of main undercarriage platen attach link fittings for all models with serial numbers from 1 to 310, excluding those incorporating modification 6/1345. The directive references De Havilland of Canada Service Bulletin No. 6/226 Revision A, which provides detailed compliance requirements to be followed by operators and maintenance personnel. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to enhance the safety of civil aviation by setting clear, enforceable standards that must be adhered to by all relevant parties.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on DHC-6 (Twin Otter) series aeroplanes. The regulation applies to all models with serial numbers 1 to 310 that do not incorporate modification 6/1345. This legislation is designed to ensure that these aircraft meet specific safety standards, particularly regarding the main undercarriage platen attach link fittings, which must be inspected as detailed in De Havilland of Canada Service Bulletin No. 6/226 Rev. A. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified models to maintain their airworthiness certification. The scope of the regulation is geographically and jurisdictionally applicable across Australia, as it falls under Commonwealth law. The Act does not explicitly mention exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but compliance is enforced through subordinate instruments that detail the inspection and maintenance requirements.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, contain provisions that govern the airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the DHC-6 (Twin Otter) series aeroplanes. Section 39-105, for example, outlines the schedule of airworthiness directives that must be followed. This section references Amendment 1, which mandates the inspection of main undercarriage platen attach link fittings on DHC-6 series aeroplanes with serial numbers 1 to 310 that do not incorporate modification 6/1345 (Section 39-105(1)). The required inspection procedures are detailed in De Havilland of Canada Service Bulletin No. 6/226 Revision A (Section 39-105(2)). Entities and individuals governed by these regulations, such as aircraft manufacturers, maintenance organisations, and operators, have specific obligations to comply with these airworthiness directives. They must ensure that the inspections and modifications detailed in the service bulletins are performed correctly and within the specified timeframes. This includes keeping accurate records of all inspections and any modifications carried out on the aircraft to ensure ongoing airworthiness (Section 39-105(3)). Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance. These penalties can include fines and, in severe cases, the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspections and modifications are completed. The exact penalties depend on the severity and frequency of the non-compliance, but they can be substantial (Section 39-105(4)). Operators found in breach of these regulations may also face operational restrictions or revocation of their air operator certificates (Section 39-105(5)).