AD/DO-27/4 - Flap Control Lever - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australian airspace. One particular aspect of this legislation is the regulation of airworthiness directives, as exemplified in Part 39 - 105, which addresses the safety of specific aircraft models. This part was introduced to mitigate the risk of accidents and ensure that all aircraft meet minimum safety standards. An example of this is the airworthiness directive AD/DO-27/4, which pertains to the modification of the flap control lever in Dornier DO-27 series aeroplanes. This directive was implemented to address the problem of inadequate flap actuating levers without control grips, ensuring compliance by a specified date to enhance safety. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to safeguard the public and maintain the integrity of the civil aviation system.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all Dornier DO-27 series aeroplanes fitted with flap actuating levers without control grips, mandating compliance with the specified airworthiness directives. This legislation targets the modification of the flap control lever as outlined in the document Dornier TB No. 27-18, and it must be implemented before 1 September 1971. The regulation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to all relevant aircraft registered within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to the safety standards established for these aeroplanes. No exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are mentioned in the provided text, and the regulation's scope and application are directly tied to the specified aircraft modifications and compliance date. The authority to extend or restrict the application of these regulations through subordinate instruments is implied but not detailed in the provided excerpt.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth) Part 39, specifically Section 105, pertains to the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, with a focus on the Dornier DO-27 Series Aeroplanes. The relevant Airworthiness Directive (AD) in this context is AD/DO-27/4, which mandates modifications to the flap control lever on all Dornier DO-27 aircraft that are fitted with flap actuating levers without a control grip. This directive is applicable to all aircraft of the specified series, as referenced in Dornier TB No. 27-18. Compliance with these modifications is required to be completed before 1 September 1971, ensuring that the aircraft meet necessary safety standards. In terms of obligations and requirements, the AD/DO-27/4 mandates that all operators of the Dornier DO-27 aeroplanes identified in this directive must ensure that the flap control lever is modified as specified. This involves retrofitting the flap actuating levers with a control grip to enhance safety and operational reliability. Operators are required to adhere strictly to the guidance provided in Dornier TB No. 27-18, ensuring that the modifications are performed correctly and effectively. Additionally, operators must ensure that the modifications are completed before the specified compliance date to avoid any non-compliance issues. Breaching the requirements of AD/DO-27/4 can lead to significant consequences under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Specifically, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious matter that can result in civil and criminal penalties. Under Section 91 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), operators may face substantial fines, and in more severe cases, criminal charges may be laid against individuals responsible for the oversight. The specific maximum penalties are not detailed within the legislative instrument itself but are governed by broader civil aviation legislation, which can include fines of up to $200,000 for corporations and $42,000 for individuals, along with potential imprisonment terms for those found guilty of criminal breaches. These provisions underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and regulatory compliance of aviation operations.