AD/G159/17 - Wing Front Beam - Wing to Fuselage Fitting - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate civil aviation safety and operations within the country. One specific legislative instrument, F2006B10061, addresses the maintenance and safety of aircraft, particularly targeting the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. This legislation was introduced to fill a critical gap in ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft by specifying mandatory inspections and compliance requirements. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the safety standards of civil aviation, ensuring that all aircraft operations adhere to stringent regulatory requirements to protect public safety and prevent accidents. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority granted by the Commonwealth of Australia, issued Part 105 of the Civil Aviation Orders to establish specific airworthiness directives. The directive AD/G159/17, for instance, mandates a detailed inspection of the wing to fuselage fittings on Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. This directive requires inspections to be conducted within 6 months from a specified date and subsequently at intervals not exceeding one year. Compliance with these directives is essential to ensure the structural integrity and operational safety of the aircraft, thereby addressing any potential safety risks identified by the regulatory authority.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, encompasses a legislative instrument that applies to the maintenance and inspection of GulfStream (Grumman) G.159 Series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all models of the specified aircraft and mandates that inspections be conducted on the wing to fuselage fittings at butt line 9.0 and in associated areas, as outlined in Grumman Gulfstream 1 Service Change No. 190. This requirement extends to ensuring any necessary rework is performed in accordance with the same service change or a variation approved by the manufacturer. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, as administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The Act requires compliance within six months after 28 January 1972, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding one year, ensuring ongoing adherence to safety standards for the specified aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, include detailed requirements for the maintenance and inspection of various aircraft models, including the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. A pertinent directive, AD/G159/17, mandates inspections and rework of the wing to fuselage fittings at butt line 9.0 and associated areas (Section 1/72). This directive applies to all models of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes (Section 1/72). The inspection and necessary rework must be carried out in accordance with the details specified in Grumman Gulfstream 1 Service Change No. 190, or an approved variation by the manufacturer (Section 1/72). Operators and owners of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes are required to ensure that these inspections and any necessary rework are completed within six months from 28 January 1972. After the initial inspection, these checks must be repeated at intervals not exceeding one year (Section 1/72). This continuous oversight ensures the aircraft maintain their airworthiness and adhere to safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives can result in serious penalties. For corporations, the maximum penalty can include fines up to $1,260,000 or, in the case of serious breaches, imprisonment of directors. For individuals, the penalties may include fines up to $252,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both (Sections 9 and 10 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988). These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to the specified inspection and maintenance schedules to ensure the safety and compliance of the aircraft.