AD/DIAMOND/3 - Nose Wheel Leg

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through the legislative instrument F2006B09287, address the need for maintaining aircraft safety standards by issuing specific airworthiness directives. These regulations, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aim to ensure that aircraft meet the necessary safety requirements, particularly focusing on preventing potential structural failures that could compromise flight safety. One such directive, AD/DIAMOND/3, pertains to the Diamond HOAC Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers 20.005 through 20.160, requiring regular inspections of the nose wheel leg weld to detect any cracks using the fluorescent penetrant method, as per Diamond Aircraft Industries Service Bulletin 20-32. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of cracks in the nose wheel tappet weld, which was identified by the manufacturer, and it became effective on 6 May 1998. The requirement for compliance is to conduct the initial inspection within 20 hours of service after the directive's effective date and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service until a version 'B' nose wheel leg is installed.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, mandates the application of Airworthiness Directives for particular aircraft models to ensure compliance with safety standards. This legislative instrument focuses on Diamond (HOAC) Series Aeroplanes, specifically Model DV20 with serial numbers ranging from 20.005 through 20.160. The requirement established by AD/DIAMOND/3 mandates that the nose wheel leg weld must be inspected for cracks using the fluorescent penetrant method, as outlined in Diamond Aircraft Industries Service Bulletin 20-32. This directive becomes effective from 6 May 1998 and requires compliance within 20 hours of service time after this date, followed by inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time until a version ‘B’ nose wheel leg is installed. This directive references Austrian AD No. 86, underscoring its alignment with international safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, including AD/DIAMOND/3 which pertains to the nose wheel leg of Diamond (HOAC) Series aeroplanes, model DV20 with serial numbers 20.005 through 20.160 (Section 1). This directive mandates that operators of these aircraft must conduct a check on the nose wheel leg weld for any cracks, using the fluorescent penetrant method as outlined in Diamond Aircraft Industries Service Bulletin 20-32 (Section 2). The requirement to comply with this directive is explicitly stated for aircraft that have not yet undergone the initial inspection, which must be completed within 20 hours of service time after 6 May 1998 (Section 3). Subsequent inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time, continuing until a version 'B' nose wheel leg is installed (Section 4). Operators of the affected Diamond Series aeroplanes are obligated to adhere to the inspection schedule stipulated by AD/DIAMOND/3. This includes ensuring that the fluorescent penetrant method is employed during inspections, as per the guidance in Service Bulletin 20-32, to accurately identify any potential cracks in the nose wheel leg weld (Section 5). Additionally, operators must maintain records of all inspections conducted and the outcomes thereof, as CASA may require these records for compliance verification (Section 6). The directive also requires operators to replace the nose wheel leg with a version 'B' if any cracks are detected, and to continue regular inspections until such a replacement is made (Section 7). Failure to comply with AD/DIAMOND/3 can result in significant consequences. CASA has the authority to enforce penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives, which can include fines and potential grounding of the affected aircraft (Section 8). While the exact penalties are not specified in the directive, they can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft components. Furthermore, continued operation of an aircraft with known defects in its nose wheel leg could lead to safety hazards, potentially resulting in accidents and endangering lives (Section 9). Therefore, operators must take this directive seriously and ensure strict adherence to its requirements to avoid both regulatory and safety repercussions.