AD/FA-200/23 Amdt 1 - Control Column

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, introduced Airworthiness Directives (AD) to address safety issues related to aircraft operations in Australia. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), these regulations aim to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australian airspace. One such directive, AD/FA-200/23, pertains to Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes and was implemented to mitigate risks associated with control column failures. The directive was introduced following a reported incident of in-flight failure due to cracking in the control column tube's lock pin hole area. This amendment mandates the use of an approved dye penetrant method to inspect the control column tube for cracks, requiring compliance before further flight after 5 January 1990 and at each scheduled inspection thereafter. The policy objective is to enhance the safety and reliability of Fuji FA-200 aeroplanes by preventing potential control column failures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Fuji FA-200 series aeroplanes that have not been modified in accordance with Fuji Technical Bulletin 200-020, dated 30 May 1989. This regulation mandates that operators and maintainers of these aircraft must conduct inspections on the control column tube using an approved dye penetrant method to detect any cracking in the lock pin hole area. The requirement is that these inspections must be performed prior to further flight after 5 January 1987 and subsequently at each scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue. This directive was introduced in response to a reported in-flight failure of the control column, where the tube fractured at the lock pin hole, prompting the need for stringent inspection procedures to ensure airworthiness. The directive's scope is confined to the specified Fuji FA-200 series aeroplanes and does not extend to aircraft that have already been modified as per the specified technical bulletin.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly AD/FA-200/23 Amendment 1, focus on the inspection of the control column tube in Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes that have not been modified according to Fuji Technical Bulletin 200-020, dated 30 May 1989. Specifically, Section 1/90 of the schedule mandates that these aircraft undergo an inspection using an approved dye penetrant method to check the control column tube for cracking in the lock pin hole area. This inspection must be completed before any further flight after 5 January 1987 and at each subsequent scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issuance. The obligations imposed by the regulations are clear and specific. Owners and operators of Fuji FA-200 Series aeroplanes must ensure that the control column tube is inspected according to the outlined procedures and timelines. This means that before any flight, the aircraft must be checked for the specified defects, and records of these inspections must be maintained for compliance purposes. Maintenance personnel are required to use an approved dye penetrant method to conduct the inspection, ensuring that the process is both thorough and reliable. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to significant legal and operational consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) takes these safety directives seriously, and non-compliance can result in severe penalties. For instance, operating an aircraft without the required inspections may lead to enforcement actions against the operator. These actions can include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or even criminal charges in cases of gross negligence. The maximum penalties for such breaches are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but they can be severe, reflecting the critical nature of maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft.