AD/GAF-N22/23 - Rudder Pedal Guards - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39, specifically, addresses the airworthiness directives necessary for maintaining safe standards. One such directive is AD/GAF-N22/23, which was enacted to address the specific issue of rudder pedal guards in GAF N22 and N24 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to ensure that all models N22, N22B, N24, and N24A, excluding those that have already incorporated the N290 modification, implement the required modifications to the rudder pedal guards within 100 hours of time in service after 1 August 1978. The policy objective is to enhance flight safety by mitigating potential risks associated with rudder pedal guards that could compromise the aircraft's control systems. This directive was issued following safety bulletin GAF Alert SB No. ANMD-53-3, which highlighted the necessity for the modification to prevent any potential operational hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically addresses airworthiness directives for certain aircraft, including the GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes. This regulation mandates modifications to rudder pedal guards for all models N22, N22B, N24, and N24A, excluding those that have already incorporated the modification N290. The directive applies to all aircraft falling under these categories and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service following 1 August 1978, as stipulated in GAF Alert SB No. ANMD-53-3. This regulation ensures that the specified aircraft meet the necessary safety standards, and its application extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The regulation does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond those mentioned, and its scope is enforced through subordinate instruments as necessary to maintain compliance and safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives that govern the maintenance and safety standards for various aircraft types, such as the GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/GAF-N22/23, pertains to the modification of rudder pedal guards (Section 1). This directive applies to all models N22, N22B, N24, and N24A, excluding those that have already incorporated the N290 modification (Section 2). Under this directive, the primary requirement is to modify the rudder pedal guards of the specified aircraft models to ensure safety and compliance with aviation standards (Section 3). This modification must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 1 August 1978 (Section 4). The directive references GAF Alert SB No. ANMD-53-3 as the document detailing the necessary modification procedures (Section 5). Compliance with this directive is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the specified timeline could result in non-compliance with airworthiness standards. Entities and individuals governed by these regulations must ensure that the specified rudder pedal modifications are performed by certified personnel and documented accordingly (Section 6). This includes maintaining accurate records of the modifications and any associated inspections (Section 7). The primary obligation is to ensure that all modifications are completed within the stipulated timeframe to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft (Section 8). Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/GAF-N22/23 may result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance, which can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until the modifications are satisfactorily completed (Section 9). Additionally, any breach of these regulations may lead to criminal charges, particularly if the non-compliance results in an aviation accident or incident (Section 10). The maximum penalties for such offences are detailed within the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations, which may include substantial fines and imprisonment depending on the severity of the breach (Section 11).