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/FU24/57 Shoulder Harness Inertia Reel Installation
Tension Clip P/N 08-16037-3 - Inspection
6/80
Applicability: All models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 with S/Nos. 265, 266, 267, 268 and 271. Document: Aerospace SB No. ASB/FU/067.
Compliance: Within 10 hours time in service after 23 April 1980.
Background: It is suspected that the subject tension clips may have been manufactured from defective material.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, are instrumental in ensuring the safety and regulation of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39, in particular, focuses on airworthiness directives which are crucial in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. One such directive, AD/FU24/57, pertains to the FU 24 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Airparts (NZ) Ltd., specifically targeting models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 with serial numbers 265, 266, 267, 268, and 271. This directive addresses a critical safety concern regarding the potential defectiveness of certain tension clips used in the shoulder harness inertia reel installation, identified as P/N 08-16037-3. The regulation mandates an inspection within 10 hours of time in service following 23 April 1980, aiming to rectify any issues that may compromise the aircraft's safety. The directive is enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority conferred by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, reflecting a commitment to stringent safety oversight and the proactive management of potential hazards in aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, mandates the applicability of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of civil aviation. AD/FU24/57 pertains to the inspection of the shoulder harness inertia reel tension clip part number 08-16037-3 for specific models of the FU 24 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Airparts (NZ) Ltd. This directive applies to all models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 with serial numbers 265, 266, 267, 268, and 271. The directive necessitates compliance within 10 hours of time in service following 23 April 1980, in response to concerns about the potential use of defective material in the manufacturing of the tension clips. The directive extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, imposing mandatory safety checks on the specified aircraft models to mitigate any risks associated with the identified manufacturing defect.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, contain Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular directive, AD/FU24/57, pertains to the installation of shoulder harness inertia reels for FU 24 Series Aeroplanes manufactured by Airparts (NZ) Ltd. It mandates the inspection of tension clip P/N 08-16037-3, with a compliance window of within 10 hours of time in service after 23 April 1980 for specific models (Section 1). These models include FU24-954 and FU24A-954 with serial numbers 265, 266, 267, 268, and 271. The directive is based on Aerospace Service Bulletin No. ASB/FU/067, which raises concerns about the potential use of defective material in manufacturing the tension clips (Section 2).
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties governed by it. Owners and operators of the specified aircraft models must ensure that the tension clip P/N 08-16037-3 is inspected as per the directive within the stipulated timeframe. This inspection is crucial to verify the integrity and safety of the shoulder harness inertia reel system. Furthermore, the directive requires that any necessary corrective actions, such as the replacement of defective tension clips, be carried out in accordance with the Aerospace Service Bulletin No. ASB/FU/067. Compliance with these directives is mandatory to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and to ensure the safety of passengers and crew (Section 3).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can result in various consequences. The Act delineates specific offences and penalties for non-compliance. Firstly, any person who fails to comply with the inspection and corrective action requirements may be subject to enforcement actions by CASA. This can include the issuance of fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions (Section 4). Additionally, in cases where non-compliance leads to safety incidents or accidents, the responsible parties could face more severe civil or criminal penalties, including imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and its consequences. The specific penalties are detailed within the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and its associated regulations.