COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Diamond (HOAC) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DIAMOND/1 Operational Limitation 9/97 DM
Applicability: Diamond Aircraft Model DA 20 A1 “Katana” aircraft, with serial numbers 10002 through 10287.
Requirement: 1. Install a placard on the cockpit instrument panel, in letters at least 2.54 mm (0.10 inch) high, in the vicinity of the existing limitations placard located above the airspeed indicator, to read:
SPINS PROHIBITED
A flight manual amendment is required.
2. Modify the aircraft in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Diamond Aircraft Service Bulletin DA20-53-01A, dated 5 June 1997.
Note: Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-97-09 refers.
Compliance: 1. Before further flight.
2. Before 18 July 1997.
This airworthiness directive becomes effective on 18 June 1997.
Background: There has been an occurrence of a rudder pedal jam during a practice spin with a Katana aircraft. The jam was caused by the pilot’s shoe being caught between the rudder pedal and battery hardware.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39, which includes the schedule of airworthiness directives, was introduced to address safety concerns and ensure that aircraft meet the necessary safety standards. This particular airworthiness directive, AD/DIAMOND/1, pertains to Diamond Aircraft Model DA 20 A1 “Katana” aircraft with serial numbers 10002 through 10287 and aims to rectify a specific safety issue identified with the rudder pedal assembly. The directive mandates the installation of a placard warning against spins and requires modifications to the aircraft as outlined in the referenced service bulletin. This action is taken in response to an incident where a rudder pedal jam occurred during a practice spin, which was traced to a pilot's shoe becoming entangled with the rudder pedal and battery hardware, as noted in Transport Canada’s Emergency AD CF-97-09. Compliance with this directive is essential to prevent further occurrences of such hazardous situations, ensuring the safety of flights conducted under these conditions.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. In this case, AD/DIAMOND/1 is an operational limitation directive that applies to Diamond Aircraft Model DA 20 A1 “Katana” aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 10002 to 10287. The directive mandates the installation of a placard in the cockpit instrument panel, clearly stating "SPINS PROHIBITED" in letters at least 2.54 mm (0.10 inch) high, positioned near the existing limitations placard above the airspeed indicator. Additionally, the aircraft must be modified in accordance with Diamond Aircraft Service Bulletin DA20-53-01A, dated 5 June 1997. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory before further flight and by 18 July 1997. This airworthiness directive took effect on 18 June 1997, following an incident where a rudder pedal jam occurred during a practice spin due to a pilot’s shoe getting caught between the rudder pedal and battery hardware.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically address the airworthiness of Diamond (HOAC) Series Aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directives (AD). AD/DIAMOND/1, applicable to Diamond Aircraft Model DA 20 A1 “Katana” aircraft with serial numbers 10002 through 10287, mandates particular operational limitations and modifications to ensure safety. Section 1 of this directive requires the installation of a placard on the cockpit instrument panel, prominently displayed in the vicinity of the existing limitations placard above the airspeed indicator, stating "SPINS PROHIBITED" in letters at least 2.54 mm high (AD/DIAMOND/1(1)). Additionally, the aircraft must be modified in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Diamond Aircraft Service Bulletin DA20-53-01A, dated 5 June 1997 (AD/DIAMOND/1(2)). These modifications are necessary to address an occurrence where a rudder pedal jam occurred during a practice spin, caused by the pilot’s shoe being caught between the rudder pedal and battery hardware.
Compliance with AD/DIAMOND/1 is mandatory and must be achieved before any further flight and before a specified date, 18 July 1997 (AD/DIAMOND/1(3)). The directive became effective on 18 June 1997, and its purpose is to prevent similar incidents by prohibiting spins and requiring the specified modifications to the aircraft (AD/DIAMOND/1). Operators of these aircraft must ensure that the required placard is installed and the aircraft modifications are completed as per the service bulletin instructions.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/DIAMOND/1 can result in serious safety implications and may lead to severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties in the context of AD/DIAMOND/1, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include grounding of the aircraft, fines, or other regulatory measures, and in severe cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals responsible for the non-compliance. The exact penalties depend on the specific circumstances and the severity of the breach, but the overarching goal is to ensure that all aircraft meet the required safety standards to protect passengers and crew.