AD/GA-7/11 Amdt 1 - Elevator Hinge and Spar

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, address the safety standards and requirements for airworthiness directives, including the amendment concerning Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation aims to ensure that aircraft maintain a high standard of airworthiness and safety. This particular amendment, AD/GA-7/11, was introduced to address the problem of reported cracks in the elevator spars of the specified aircraft model. The requirement to follow the American General Mandatory Service Bulletin ME-1A and visually inspect the repaired areas serves as a policy objective to mitigate these safety risks and maintain compliance with airworthiness standards. Compliance with these directives is mandatory for the specified aircraft models, ensuring that any identified issues are rectified within stipulated timeframes.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes, applies to aircraft with serial numbers ranging from GA 7-0001 to GA 7-0115. The regulation mandates actions to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft, focusing on the elevator hinge and spar. The directive requires compliance with American General Mandatory Service Bulletin ME-1A, Parts A through E, which involves replacing or repairing the elevator spar to address reported cracks at the hinge attachment point. Alternatively, Auto Avia design drawing 91/174/D1 is accepted as a valid repair scheme. For aircraft repaired under this drawing, a visual inspection of the repaired area is mandated to check for cracks, working rivets, and debonding. Compliance with these directives is required within 10 hours of service after 31 July 1991 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 50 hours until GA-7 Service Kit No. 12 is installed. Inspections must also be performed at each maintenance release issue following 21 August 1991. The regulation extends its application through subordinate instruments, ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft fleet.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a schedule of Airworthiness Directives that apply to various aircraft, such as the Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes. In this context, the regulation AD/GA-7/11 Amendment 1 addresses the issue of elevator hinge and spar (Section 1). The applicability of this directive extends to models GA-7 with serial numbers ranging from GA 7-0001 through GA 7-0115. The primary requirement outlined in this directive is for the aircraft to undergo action in accordance with the American General Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) ME-1A, which encompasses parts A through E (Section 1). An alternative method, Auto Avia design drawing 91/174/D1, is also acceptable if the repairs are conducted following this design scheme (Section 1). For aircraft repaired under this alternative method, a visual inspection of the forward face of the repaired area is mandated to check for cracks, working rivets, and debonding (Section 1). Compliance with these directives must occur within specific time frames: within 10 hours of service time following 31 July 1991, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 50 hours until GA-7 Service Kit No. 12 is installed (Section 1). Additionally, inspections must be carried out at each maintenance release issue after 21 August 1991 (Section 1). The obligations imposed by this legislation require operators of Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes to adhere to the specified repair and inspection protocols. Operators must ensure that the aircraft undergo the necessary actions detailed in the American General Mandatory Service Bulletin ME-1A or follow the Auto Avia design drawing 91/174/D1 as an acceptable alternative. This involves performing the required repairs to the elevator hinge and spar and conducting visual inspections of the repaired areas as outlined. Compliance with these directives is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring safety standards are met. Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directives outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to significant consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, violations of such directives can generally result in severe civil or criminal penalties under aviation law. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential legal action against the operator. The seriousness of these penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the mandated repair and inspection schedules to avoid adverse outcomes.