COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Airparts (NZ) Ltd. FU 24 Series Aeroplanes
AD/FU24/39 Cleveland Wheel and Brake Assembly - Inspection 4/71
Applicability: All models incorporating Air Parts Mod. AP34.
Requirement: Inspect Cleveland Wheel and brake assemblies (Mod. AP34) to ensure that the torque plate is located on the outboard face of the axle attachment shoulder and not clamped between the axle and lower leg fitting.
Compliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 5 April 1971.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were introduced to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil aviation within Australia. This legislation aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of the nation’s aviation industry. Within this extensive regulatory body, Part 39 outlines various airworthiness directives that are critical for maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. One such directive, AD/FU24/39, pertains to the inspection of Cleveland Wheel and brake assemblies on FU 24 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Airparts (NZ) Ltd. This directive was introduced to address a specific safety concern related to the installation of torque plates in wheel and brake assemblies, ensuring that they are correctly positioned on the outboard face of the axle attachment shoulder, thereby preventing potential mechanical failures that could compromise aircraft safety. The directive’s policy objective is to mandate timely inspections, thereby enhancing the overall safety and reliability of the aircraft in service.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, mandate that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives applies to all models incorporating Air Parts Mod. AP34, particularly the Cleveland Wheel and Brake Assembly. This regulation targets the inspection of these assemblies to ensure the torque plate is correctly positioned on the outboard face of the axle attachment shoulder, rather than being clamped between the axle and lower leg fitting. The requirement is that this inspection must be carried out within 10 hours of time in service following the directive's effective date of 5 April 1971. The scope of this directive is geographically and operationally broad, covering all aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia that are subject to CASA's regulatory oversight. There are no specific exclusions or exemptions mentioned in this directive, and compliance is essential for maintaining the airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The application of this directive may be further extended or detailed through subordinate instruments issued by CASA, ensuring that the safety standards are uniformly upheld across the aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a schedule of airworthiness directives (AD/FU24/39) that mandate inspections of Cleveland Wheel and Brake Assemblies (Mod. AP34) in all FU 24 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Airparts (NZ) Ltd. The directive applies to all models incorporating Air Parts Mod. AP34 and requires that these components be inspected to ensure the torque plate is correctly positioned on the outboard face of the axle attachment shoulder and not clamped between the axle and lower leg fitting (Section 4/71). Compliance with this directive is required within 10 hours of time in service after the effective date of 5 April 1971.
The obligations imposed by this directive on the operators and maintainers of FU 24 Series Aeroplanes include a rigorous inspection regime. They must ensure that the Cleveland Wheel and Brake Assemblies are examined to verify the correct placement of the torque plate. This inspection must be completed before the aeroplane returns to service after the specified 10 hours, ensuring safety standards are met. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in non-compliance with airworthiness standards, potentially leading to grounding of the aircraft until the issue is rectified.
The regulations also outline the potential consequences for breaches of these provisions. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, breaches of airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential criminal charges. The severity of the penalty can depend on the nature of the breach and its impact on safety. For example, failure to adhere to airworthiness directives can result in substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring compliance with these critical safety measures.