COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Reims Aviation F406 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/F406/3 NLG Steering Cable and Air Conditioning Relay 7/2000
DM
Applicability: Serial numbers F406-0001 to F406-0086
Requirement: Action in accordance with Reims/Cessna SB CAB00-6 dated 17 April 2000.
Note: DGAC AD 2000-177(A) refers.
Compliance: 1. Inspect within 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this directive; and
2. Where no damage is found modify within the 100 hours time in service after the effective date of this directive, or by 31 December 2000, whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 May 2000
Background: NLG steering cables have been found damaged by electrical arcing between a relay and the NLG cable. Such arcing is an unsafe condition may cause failure of the NLG steering system.
William Ronald Smith
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 15 May 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 May 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. The CAR 1998 was introduced to address the need for comprehensive regulations governing civil aviation operations, including the maintenance and operation of aircraft. The CAR 1998 is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for enforcing these regulations and ensuring that aircraft meet the necessary safety standards. This legislative instrument is an example of CASA’s role in maintaining the safety of civil aviation through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives, such as the AD/F406/3 concerning Reims Aviation F406 Series Aeroplanes, which was designed to correct unsafe conditions identified in the aircraft's design or maintenance procedures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 – 105, outlines the scope and application of Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia. This specific AD applies to Reims Aviation F406 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from F406-0001 to F406-0086. The directive mandates that specific actions be taken to address an identified unsafe condition related to the NLG steering cable and air conditioning relay. These actions include inspecting the aircraft within 10 hours of service following the directive's effective date and making necessary modifications within 100 hours of service, or by 31 December 2000, whichever comes first. The AD extends its application across the Commonwealth of Australia and aims to ensure compliance with safety standards, reflecting CASA's regulatory authority over civil aviation within the nation.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a crucial regulatory instrument issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998). Specifically, AD/F406/3 applies to Reims Aviation F406 series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from F406-0001 to F406-0086. The directive mandates specific actions to address an identified unsafe condition related to the NLG (Nose Landing Gear) steering cable and the air conditioning relay. The action required is detailed in Reims/Cessna Service Bulletin (SB) CAB00-6 dated 17 April 2000. This bulletin references DGAC AD 2000-177(A), which provides further context and technical details.
The directive imposes several obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected aircraft. Firstly, an inspection of the NLG steering cable and air conditioning relay must be conducted within 10 hours of the directive’s effective date, which was 24 May 2000. If no damage is found during this inspection, modifications must then be made within 100 hours of the effective date or by 31 December 2000, whichever comes first. Compliance with these inspection and modification requirements is essential to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can have serious consequences. The directive clearly outlines that any breach of the specified requirements can lead to significant safety risks. Although the text does not explicitly mention specific penalties, non-compliance with CASA directives generally can result in substantial penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. These penalties can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft, thereby impacting the operator's ability to conduct flights until the non-compliance is rectified. Ensuring adherence to this directive is, therefore, critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft and ensuring the safety of all those on board.