AD/G159/28 - Wing Lower Surface - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders (CAO) of 1998, specifically the part concerning the schedule of airworthiness directives, was enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) established these orders under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 to provide a robust regulatory framework for the maintenance and operation of aircraft, addressing gaps in safety standards and ensuring compliance with international aviation safety norms. One such directive, AD/G159/28, pertains to the inspection of the wing lower surface of Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, necessitating regular checks as outlined in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 283 to ensure ongoing airworthiness and safety. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain a high standard of safety in Australian civil aviation by mandating specific maintenance procedures for certain aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, apply to all relevant entities and individuals operating within the aviation industry in Australia. Specifically, the Order pertains to the GulfStream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, dictating mandatory inspections of the wing lower surface as outlined in AD/G159/28. This directive applies to all models of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, ensuring compliance with the inspection requirements outlined in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 283. Compliance must be achieved before 1 November 1976, with subsequent inspections mandated at intervals not exceeding three years. The scope of this Order is national, encompassing all Commonwealth territories, and its application is enforced through subordinate instruments that may provide further detail or amendments to the primary directives.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Orders (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes (AD/G159/28) pertain to the inspection requirements of the wing lower surface. Specifically, section 7/76 of the directive mandates that these inspections must be conducted for all models of the specified aircraft series. The directive references Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 283 as the document containing the necessary inspection procedures and guidelines. Compliance with these inspections is required before 1 November 1976 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding three years. The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities it governs. Operators and owners of Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes must ensure that the wing lower surface inspections are performed in accordance with the requirements outlined in Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 283. These inspections must be completed before the specified compliance date of 1 November 1976, and ongoing inspections must be carried out at intervals not exceeding three years. Failure to adhere to these inspection schedules can result in the aircraft being deemed non-airworthy, potentially leading to operational restrictions or grounding of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives outlined in the legislation can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives may result in civil penalties. Specifically, individuals or entities found in breach of these directives can face fines up to a maximum of $165,000 for individuals and $825,000 for corporations. Additionally, continued non-compliance could lead to criminal charges, where individuals could face imprisonment for up to two years, and corporations could be fined up to $4.25 million. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the specified inspection intervals and procedures to maintain the airworthiness of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes.