Overview

The Airworthiness Directive AD/FU24/63, issued in 2004 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a delegate, addresses a safety concern related to the main spar web of Model FU24 aircraft equipped with turbine engines. The directive was enacted to prevent fatigue damage that could compromise the structural integrity of the wing, ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. CASA's policy objective, as stated in the directive, is to mandate specific inspections and repairs to maintain the safety standards of these aircraft. The directive requires owners and operators to visually inspect the main spar web for signs of damage, such as buckling, cracking, and fastener distress, and to report findings to the manufacturer and the NZ Civil Aviation Authority. Compliance with the directive must be achieved within 100 hours of service after 24 November 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever comes first.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 applies to all Model FU24 aircraft equipped with turbine engines. This regulatory instrument is designed to address the specific issue of potential fatigue damage compromising the structural integrity of the wing. The AD mandates that certain actions must be undertaken within a specified timeframe to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft. These actions include removing specific panels and fairings to visually inspect the main spar web for signs of damage such as buckling, cracking, and fastener distress. Any detected damage must be repaired before further flight, and findings must be reported to the manufacturer for forwarding to the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. This AD extends its jurisdictional reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, becoming effective from 24 November 2004, and compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after this date or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs first.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive AD/FU24/63 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, applies to all Model FU24 aircraft equipped with turbine engines. The directive mandates specific actions to be undertaken to ensure the safety of these aircraft. Firstly, underwing access panels, wing to fuselage fairings, and leading edge intertank fairings must be removed to allow inspection of the main spar web. This inspection must be conducted visually between the outer wing attachment and as far inboard of the fuselage attach as possible via the underwing access points. The inspection should look for signs of damage, including buckling or creasing of the web panels, cracking of the web, caps, or stiffeners, and fastener distress. If any damage is detected, it must be repaired before the aircraft can be flown again. Regardless of whether any damage is found, the findings must be reported to the manufacturer for forwarding to the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA). This reporting requirement ensures that any issues are documented and can be tracked over time. The obligations imposed by the AD on the parties it governs are comprehensive and designed to maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft. Operators of Model FU24 aircraft must ensure that the specified inspections are conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 24 November 2004, or by 31 December 2004, whichever comes first. The directive specifies the exact points of access and the types of damage to look for, ensuring that the inspections are thorough and systematic. Furthermore, the requirement to report findings to the manufacturer and subsequently to the NZ CAA establishes a chain of communication that helps in tracking and managing any structural issues across the fleet of FU24 aircraft. Failure to comply with the AD AD/FU24/63 could result in severe consequences. The directive highlights the importance of adhering to the stipulated inspection and reporting requirements to prevent fatigue damage that could compromise the safety of the aircraft. Any breaches of the AD may lead to enforcement actions, including fines, sanctions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken. The maximum penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the directive but could include significant financial penalties and legal repercussions under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. These consequences underscore the seriousness with which the CASA treats adherence to airworthiness directives and the critical role they play in maintaining aviation safety standards.