COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Series Aeroplanes
AD/GA8/2 Aileron Control System 11/2004
Applicability: All aircraft with S/No.s GA8-00-004 through GA8-04-056.
Requirement: | 1. | Action in accordance with Instructions: 1 Inspection of Gippsland Aeronautics Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11 Issue 2 dated 25 August 2004. |
Compliance: | 1. | As specified in the requirement document. |
| 2. | For aircraft that have not been modified in accordance with Instructions: 3 Replacement of SB-GA8-2004-11 Issue 2 re-inspect in accordance with Requirement 1 at intervals not exceeding 300 hours time in service. |
Incorporation of the modification to the control circuit by replacement of the original steel shafts with the bronze shafts as per section 3 of the requirements document is terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by this Airworthiness Directive. If only one side is modified, the repetitive inspection requirements continue to apply to the unmodified side.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 28 October 2004.
Background: The manufacturer has had several reported incidences of the aileron control stiffness and one incident of the aileron control locking during taxi after flight.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 September 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 October 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended, provide the legal framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One particular legislative instrument within this framework is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/GA8/2 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2004. This directive was introduced to address safety concerns identified in the aileron control system of Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from GA8-00-004 to GA8-04-056. The directive was enacted to mitigate the risk of aileron control stiffness and the potential for the control to lock during taxi after flight, ensuring that these aircraft remain airworthy and safe for operation. The policy objective behind this AD is to mandate corrective actions to rectify the unsafe condition, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address safety concerns in aircraft operation. The AD applies to all Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from GA8-00-004 to GA8-04-056, focusing on the aileron control system. The directive requires an inspection in accordance with the Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11 Issue 2 dated 25 August 2004, and, if not already modified, replacement of the original steel shafts with bronze shafts as per the service bulletin to mitigate risks of control stiffness and locking. Non-compliance with the AD mandates repetitive inspections at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of service time. This AD became effective on 28 October 2004, following its notification in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 October 2004.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under subregulation 39.1 (1), mandates corrective action concerning the aileron control system of Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from GA8-00-004 through GA8-04-056. The directive, identified as AD/GA8/2 dated 11/2004, applies to all affected aircraft and requires that an inspection be conducted in line with the instructions detailed in the Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11 Issue 2 dated 25 August 2004. Furthermore, for aircraft that have not been modified according to the specified instructions, a replacement of the steel shafts with bronze shafts is required, with a re-inspection to be conducted at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties involved, primarily the aircraft owners and operators. They are required to ensure that the aileron control system of their aircraft is inspected and, if necessary, modified in accordance with the instructions set out in the Mandatory Service Bulletin. This includes replacing the steel shafts with bronze shafts to address the identified safety issue. The compliance timeframe for these actions is detailed within the AD itself, with modifications needing to be completed and inspections scheduled within the specified intervals. Failure to adhere to these obligations can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy and may lead to enforcement actions.
The AD further outlines the consequences for non-compliance with the specified requirements. While the AD does not explicitly mention civil or criminal penalties, it does stipulate that failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can result in the aircraft being grounded and potentially facing legal action. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance and may impose penalties on operators who do not adhere to the directive. The specific penalties are not detailed in the AD but could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement actions as deemed necessary by CASA. It is crucial for operators to ensure timely compliance to avoid any adverse consequences.