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
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/FU24/58 and issues the following 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/FU24/58
Amdt 1
Wing Structural Fatigue Limitation 6/2000
Applicability: All model FU24-950, FU24A-950, FU24-954 and FU24A-954 series aeroplanes which are or have been used in agricultural operations.
Requirement: Retire the wing main spar lower cap from service.
Compliance: Upon or prior to achieving 11000 hours time in service in agricultural operations.
This Amendment becomes effective on 15 June 2000.
Background: The wing spar safe fatigue life of 11000 hours in agricultural operations was established on the basis of the manufacturer’s fatigue substantiation in accordance with Australian certification requirements, and with due allowance for Australian requirements and operating conditions.
The safe fatigue life estimate for Normal Category operations is approximately 130000 hours. This amendment clarifies that the life limitation relates to flight time accumulated in agricultural operations only.
The initial issue of this directive was issued in September 1980.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 May 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17 May 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 are part of a broader legislative framework aimed at maintaining high safety standards within the aviation industry. One particular area addressed by these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which are formal and enforceable rules used by CASA to mandate corrective actions when an unsafe condition is identified with an aircraft or aeronautical product. This ensures the ongoing airworthiness of aircraft and protects the safety of passengers, crew, and the general public. The specific AD referenced here, AD/FU24/58 Amendment 1, was introduced to address the issue of wing structural fatigue in certain series of aeroplanes used in agricultural operations, clarifying the previously established fatigue life limitations to ensure compliance with Australian certification requirements and operating conditions.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to the airworthiness of FU 24 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all model FU24-950, FU24A-950, FU24-954 and FU24A-954 aeroplanes that are or have been used in agricultural operations. The directive, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandates the retirement of the wing main spar lower cap from service for these aircraft upon or before they reach 11000 hours of time in agricultural operations. This requirement is necessary to address a specific unsafe condition identified in these aeroplanes. The directive is effective from 15 June 2000, and its details are published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17 May 2000. The scope of this directive is limited to agricultural operations, with a distinct safe fatigue life estimate for normal category operations.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/FU24/58 Amendment 1, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, revokes the previous AD AD/FU24/58 and introduces new requirements for specific series of FU24 aeroplanes used in agricultural operations. The AD applies to all model FU24-950, FU24A-950, FU24-954, and FU24A-954 aeroplanes that are or have been used in agricultural operations (Section 1). The requirement outlined in the AD is the mandatory retirement of the wing main spar lower cap from service (Section 2). This action must be taken when the aeroplane reaches or has reached 11,000 hours of time in service in agricultural operations (Section 3). This Amendment becomes effective from 15 June 2000, as specified in the compliance section (Section 4).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft. Operators must ensure that the wing main spar lower cap is retired from service once the aeroplane has accumulated 11,000 hours of flight time in agricultural operations. This requirement is critical for maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in line with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) certification standards. Operators are also responsible for keeping accurate records of flight hours to monitor compliance with this directive. The AD underscores the importance of adhering to prescribed maintenance schedules to prevent the risk of structural failure due to fatigue.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD may result in serious safety implications. The AD aims to mitigate the risk of structural failure by enforcing the retirement of the wing main spar lower cap after 11,000 hours of service in agricultural operations. Non-compliance with this directive could lead to the aeroplane being grounded until the required action is taken, potentially causing significant operational disruptions. Furthermore, the CASA may take enforcement action against operators who fail to adhere to the directive, which could include fines, penalties, or other regulatory measures. The maximum penalties for such violations are not explicitly stated in the AD, but they can include substantial financial penalties and potential legal consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988.
The AD highlights the necessity for operators to maintain strict adherence to CASA’s airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and compliance of their aircraft. By mandating the retirement of the wing main spar lower cap after 11,000 hours of agricultural service, the AD aims to prevent structural fatigue issues that could compromise the integrity of the aircraft. The directive’s requirements are clear and specific, leaving little room for interpretation, thereby ensuring that all operators of the affected aircraft understand and implement the necessary actions to maintain airworthiness.