AD/G159/38 - Control Column Wheel Attaching Shaft - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders (CAO) were enacted in 1988 by the Commonwealth of Australia, under the legislative framework established by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, to provide a comprehensive regulatory structure for civil aviation safety. The specific legislative instrument, F2006B10081, pertains to Part 105 of the CAO, which outlines the schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/G159/38, was introduced to address the identified safety issue concerning the control column wheel attaching shaft, as reported in Gulfstream American Customer Bulletin No. 312. The problem arose from an incident where the pilot’s control wheel separated from the control column during a landing approach, necessitating a timely inspection to prevent similar occurrences. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft by mandating a compliance check within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1980.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically under Part 105 and the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governs the safety and operational standards of aircraft within Australia. The legislation applies to all entities involved in the operation and maintenance of Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. This includes airlines, aircraft owners, and maintenance service providers. The directive mandates that inspections of the control column wheel attaching shaft must be performed within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1980, following the precedent set by Gulfstream American Customer Bulletin No. 312. The directive aims to prevent the recurrence of incidents where the pilot's control wheel separates from the control column, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board. This legislation is applicable nationwide, encompassing all states, territories, and Commonwealth areas, thereby ensuring uniform safety standards across the aviation industry within Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governs the safety standards for various aircraft, including the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. Under this legislative instrument, AD/G159/38 mandates an inspection of the control column wheel attaching shaft (Section 7/80). This directive applies to all models within the G159 series (Section 7/80). Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 31 July 1980 (Section 7/80). The directive references Gulfstream American Customer Bulletin No. 312 as the document outlining the necessary inspection procedures (Section 7/80). This legislation imposes specific obligations on the operators of G159 series aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that the control column wheel attaching shaft is inspected as per the requirements set out in Gulfstream American Customer Bulletin No. 312 within the stipulated timeframe. The inspections are intended to address a documented issue where a pilot’s control wheel separated from the control column during a landing approach, highlighting the potential safety risks involved (Section 7/80). Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/G159/38 can result in significant legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Orders outline that non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives can lead to enforcement actions against the operator. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the extract provided, breaches of airworthiness directives can typically result in substantial fines, and in severe cases, the grounding of the aircraft. The potential criminal or civil liability for non-compliance underscores the importance of adhering to these safety requirements to protect the safety of all persons on board the aircraft (Section 7/80).