COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes
AD/GA-7/3 Elevator Bellcrank Pivot Bolt - Inspection NK
and Replacement Applicability: All models GA-7 with S/Nos. GA7-00002, 0005 to 0021. Document: Gulfstream American SB No. ME-3.
Compliance: 1. Inspect within 100 hours time in service after 31 March 1979 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service.
2. Replace within 500 hours time in service after 31 March 1979.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation by providing regulations that govern various aspects of aviation operations, including the airworthiness of aircraft. Part 39 of these regulations, particularly the 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, is integral in maintaining the safety standards required by law. It addresses specific issues pertaining to aircraft types, models, and components, ensuring they meet the necessary safety requirements. This legislative instrument, F2006B10147, specifically targets the Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes, providing directives for the inspection and replacement of the elevator bellcrank pivot bolt to enhance the aircraft's operational safety. The policy objective is to prevent potential safety hazards associated with the specified component, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring the continued safety of air travel.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, governs the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft within Australia. This regulation applies to specific models of Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers GA7-00002, 0005 to 0021. The regulation mandates that these aircraft must undergo an inspection of the elevator bellcrank pivot bolt within 100 hours of service following 31 March 1979, and subsequent inspections must not exceed intervals of 100 hours of service. Furthermore, the pivot bolt must be replaced within 500 hours of service after 31 March 1979. The geographic reach of these regulations is nationwide, applying to all Commonwealth-registered aircraft operating in Australia. The provisions are enforced through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and compliance is expected from aircraft operators and maintenance personnel. No exclusions or exemptions are explicitly stated in the provided excerpt, and the application is directly linked to the specified serial numbers of the aircraft in question.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, include a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) for Gulfstream (Grumman American) GA-7 Series Aeroplanes. One such directive is AD/GA-7/3, which pertains to the elevator bellcrank pivot bolt. This directive is applicable to all models of the GA-7 series with serial numbers (S/Nos.) GA7-00002, 0005 to 0021. The directive is documented in Gulfstream American Service Bulletin No. ME-3 and requires compliance through a specified inspection and replacement schedule.
Under section 39 - 105 of the Regulations, the main requirements of AD/GA-7/3 are straightforward. Firstly, an inspection of the elevator bellcrank pivot bolt must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1979 and then at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service (section 1). Secondly, the bolt must be replaced within 500 hours of time in service after 31 March 1979 (section 2). This directive ensures that the structural integrity of the elevator bellcrank is maintained, thereby contributing to the overall safety of the aircraft.
The obligations imposed by AD/GA-7/3 are primarily on the operators and maintenance personnel of the affected Gulfstream GA-7 series aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that the inspection and replacement of the elevator bellcrank pivot bolt are performed in accordance with the specified intervals. Maintenance personnel are responsible for conducting the required inspections and, if necessary, replacing the bolt to comply with the directive. This entails adhering to the Gulfstream American Service Bulletin No. ME-3, which provides detailed procedures and specifications for the inspection and replacement tasks.
Failure to comply with AD/GA-7/3 may result in civil or criminal penalties. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant fines and potential imprisonment for individuals, as well as penalties for corporations. Specifically, for serious breaches, individuals may face fines of up to $21,000 and imprisonment for up to two years, while corporations may be fined up to $1,050,000. The seriousness of these penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the stipulated inspection and replacement intervals to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.