Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations within the country. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s schedule of airworthiness directives, addressing critical maintenance and safety requirements for specific aircraft models. One such directive, AD/DHC-6/56, targets DHC-6 (Twin Otter) Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the inspection and modification of the landing gear nose wheel steering cables. This directive was introduced to address the problem of the original nose wheel steering cables' short service life and instances of failure in service. The policy objective behind this regulation is to enhance the safety of the aircraft by ensuring that the steering cables are regularly inspected and maintained, thus preventing potential in-flight failures that could compromise the safety of passengers and crew. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring inspections within specified intervals to maintain the integrity of the landing gear system.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, govern the airworthiness of aircraft within Australian airspace. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to Airworthiness Directives for various aircraft models, including the DHC-6 (Twin Otter) series aeroplanes, focusing on the nose wheel steering cables and their maintenance. This regulation applies to all DHC-6 series aircraft not incorporating the modification number 6/1800.5/84, requiring regular inspections and replacements as specified. The directive mandates visual inspections of the nose gear steering cables and pulleys at set intervals, with particular emphasis on cleanliness, wear, fraying, kinks, broken strands, corrosion, and security. If any unserviceable components are found, they must be replaced in accordance with service bulletin 6/453. This regulation ensures that the aircraft remains airworthy and safe for operation, with compliance required within 100 hours of the directive’s issuance date and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 200 hours.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates certain safety directives for the operation of DHC-6 (Twin Otter) Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/DHC-6/56. This regulation focuses on the landing gear nose wheel steering cables, demanding that these cables be inspected regularly to ensure their airworthiness. Section 1 of the directive requires a visual inspection of the cables where they are visible, and section 2 extends this inspection to the entire length of the cables after the removal of the control column covers. Both sections instruct the inspection for signs of wear, such as fraying, kinks, broken strands, corrosion, and security issues, as well as examining the pulleys for wear, chipping, and security. Under this legislation, the parties involved, including aircraft operators and maintenance personnel, are obligated to comply with the outlined inspection procedures. The inspections must be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after a specified date (31 May 1984) and then at intervals not exceeding 200 hours of time in service, or until a particular modification (No. 6/1800) is incorporated. This compliance ensures that the aircraft's nose wheel steering cables and pulleys are maintained in a serviceable condition, reducing the risk of in-flight failures. Failure to adhere to the requirements set forth in the Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to serious consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of civil aviation safety regulations can generally result in severe civil and criminal penalties. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and potential criminal charges against the responsible parties. The severity of these penalties reflects the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards to protect the public and ensure the safety of aviation operations.