AD/G159/12 - Elevator Trim Tab Horn Fitting - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders were enacted in 1988 and serve to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. The particular legislative instrument F2006B10056, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, was introduced to address the need for specific airworthiness directives that ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. This legislative instrument focuses on the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, mandating a modification to the elevator trim tab horn fitting as outlined in AD/G159/12. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate any risks associated with the elevator trim tab horn fitting, ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the aircraft in operation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 Series Aeroplanes, mandate that all models of these aircraft must comply with Airworthiness Directive AD/G159/12 concerning the modification of the elevator trim tab horn fitting. This directive applies to any person or entity operating a G.159 Series aeroplane within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring adherence to the specified compliance timeline. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 30 April 1971, as outlined in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 201. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this Act is limited to the Commonwealth, and there are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the directive itself. However, further details or extensions to the application of these directives may be specified in subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Orders (CAO) establish the framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia, with Part 105 detailing specific airworthiness directives for particular aircraft models. In this context, AD/G159/12 pertains to the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. Section 105.120 of the CAO specifies that all models of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series must comply with the elevator trim tab horn fitting modification outlined in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 201. This directive requires the modification to be implemented within 100 hours of time in service after 30 April 1971. Operators and owners of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes are obligated to ensure that the elevator trim tab horn fitting modification is carried out as per the instructions provided in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 201. This involves modifying the fitting to comply with the specified safety standards, ensuring that the aircraft remains airworthy and meets the regulatory requirements set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be verified through appropriate documentation and records, which may be subject to inspection by CASA. Failure to comply with AD/G159/12 can result in severe consequences. Under the CAO, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is considered an offence. The Civil Aviation Act 1988 stipulates that operators found in breach of these directives may face civil penalties, including fines of up to $21,000 for individuals and $105,000 for corporations. Additionally, CASA has the authority to issue enforcement actions, such as grounding the aircraft until the required modifications are completed. In more serious cases, criminal charges may also be pursued, potentially resulting in heavier penalties and legal repercussions for those responsible for the non-compliance.