AD/F24/1 Amdt 1 - Undercarriage Strut - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were established to regulate civil aviation safety and maintain a consistent approach to airworthiness and operational safety standards across the nation. A specific amendment within this legislative framework is the Airworthiness Directive AD/F24/1 Amendment 1 concerning the undercarriage strut inspection for Fairchild F24 Series aeroplanes, specifically models R9, R40, and W. This directive was introduced to address potential safety risks associated with the undercarriage struts of these aircraft models. The policy objective behind this directive is to ensure that inspections are conducted at regular intervals, not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and protect the safety of passengers and crew. The directive references applicable service bulletins and airworthiness notifications to provide guidance and compliance requirements for operators of these aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to all aircraft operators and owners of Fairchild F24 Series aeroplanes, including models R9, R40, and W. The regulation mandates that these aircraft undergo inspection of the undercarriage strut at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service to ensure compliance with safety standards. The legislation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby extending its jurisdiction to all states and territories, ensuring a uniform approach to aviation safety. The directive refers to the applicable technical documents, including Fairchild Service Bulletin No. 41-8, FAA AD 47-50-9, and Aeronautical Notice 105.1.17.1.6.1, which provide the necessary technical specifications and procedures for conducting the required inspections. No specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are mentioned within the directive itself, but it should be noted that any additional specific conditions or extensions may be detailed in subordinate instruments or further regulatory guidance issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this legislation, specifically the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focus on ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the Fairchild F24 Series Aeroplanes. The regulation in question, AD/F24/1 Amendment 1, pertains to the inspection of the undercarriage struts. It applies to all models R9, R40, and W of the Fairchild F24 Series Aeroplanes (section 1). Compliance with this directive is required in accordance with the Fairchild Service Bulletin No. 41-8, FAA AD 47-50-9, or the Airworthiness Notice (ANO) 105.1.17.1.6.1. The regulation mandates that the inspection of the undercarriage struts must occur at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (section 1). The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by it. Owners and operators of the affected Fairchild F24 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the undercarriage strut inspections are carried out in accordance with the specified documents, namely the Fairchild Service Bulletin No. 41-8, FAA AD 47-50-9, or ANO 105.1.17.1.6.1. These inspections must be conducted at regular intervals, not exceeding 100 hours of time in service, to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (section 1). Additionally, the maintenance personnel responsible for conducting these inspections must be appropriately trained and qualified to perform the tasks as outlined in the referenced documents. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the regulation can lead to significant consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within the text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can result in severe civil or criminal penalties, including fines and potential disqualification of the aircraft from operation. The severity of the penalties may depend on the extent of the non-compliance and the impact on aviation safety. In some cases, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement action against the operators or owners, which could include grounding the aircraft until the required inspections are satisfactorily completed.