AD/G159/18 Amdt 2 - Life Limited Components - Retirement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, was enacted to address the need for stringent airworthiness standards and the safe operation of these aircraft. This legislative instrument, known as AD/G159/18 Amendment 2, was introduced to ensure the safety of air travel by enforcing specific maintenance and operational requirements for certain components of the G.159 series aeroplanes. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft by mandating the timely retirement of components that are critical to the safety of the aeroplanes. The instrument was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is tasked with the regulation of civil aviation safety in Australia. The revised directive focuses on eliminating certain control surfaces and associated hinge lives as previously stipulated in Gulfstream American Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 316, thereby enhancing the safety protocols for the G.159 series aeroplanes. This amendment seeks to ensure that all relevant components are retired from service at the specified times, whether by flying hours or landings, to prevent any potential safety risks. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the stipulated retirement times could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, as amended by AD/G159/18 Amendment 2, applies to all models within the specified series. This legislation governs the mandatory retirement times of certain components to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. The specified components, which include various parts related to the wing-fuselage connection, flap tracks, flap carriages, flap hinge fittings, and main landing gear, must be retired from service at the prescribed times, whether it be after a set number of hours or landings. The directive applies nationally across Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The requirements are clear and unambiguous, stipulating that compliance must be achieved by the retirement times outlined in the directive. There are no exclusions or exemptions mentioned within the text, and it appears that compliance is to be achieved strictly in accordance with the specified timelines and conditions. The legislation does not detail extensions or restrictions through subordinate instruments in the provided text.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Order (F2006B10062) concern the mandatory retirement of specific components of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. According to section 12/81 of the Order, certain components must be retired from service at specified times, either after a certain number of flying hours or landings. For instance, the Wing-Fuselage Connection components (159W10017, 159WM10018, 159WM10019) must be retired after 50,000 flying hours, while the Flap Tracks (159WM10079, 159WM10080, 159WM10081, 159WM10082, 159WM10083, 159WM10084) need to be retired after 35,000 landings. The Flap Carriages (159AM10001, 159AM10002, 159AM10003, 159AM10004) also have a retirement requirement of 35,000 landings. Flap Hinge Fittings (159CSM10051, 159CSM10052, 159CSM10053, 159CSM10054) must be retired after 20,000 landings. Finally, the Main Landing Gear 172252 (1 - 24) Adapter, Strut Actuator Mounting 173625 (25 and Subs.) must be retired after 2,500 landings. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act are quite specific, focusing on the maintenance and retirement of particular aircraft components. Operators of Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes are required to comply with these retirement times strictly. For example, they must ensure that the aforementioned components are retired at or before the specified times. The Order also provides a method to determine the number of landings for aircraft that do not have a record of the number of landings, by assuming one landing per flying hour. Operators must keep accurate records of both flying hours and landings to ensure compliance. Breaching the requirements set out in this Civil Aviation Safety Authority Order can lead to significant consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to assume that non-compliance with CASA Orders generally results in severe penalties. These could include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operation certificates, or other enforcement actions by CASA. The severity of the penalty would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, and CASA's assessment of the risk posed by the non-compliance. It is important to note that such breaches could also potentially lead to safety issues, thereby putting the lives of passengers and crew at risk.