COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
GAF N22 and N24 Series Aeroplanes
AD/GAF-N22/64 Aileron Structure 13/92 DM
Applicability: Model N22 and N24 Series, equipped with ailerons P/N 1/N-24-101 LH, P/N 1/N-24- 102 RH, P/N 2/N-24-101 LH, and P/N 2/N-24-102 RH. Aircraft LS62, 119, and 159
to 165 are excepted.
Requirement: 1. Carry out an inspection of the ailerons in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-57-9.
2. Incorporate Modification N634 in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-57-9.
Compliance: 1. Within 50 hours time in service after 28 October 1992.
2. Prior to 31 December 1993.
Background: The manufacturer had received reports from several operators of instances of buckling of the aileron leading edge skin, which was believed to be the cause of a loss of control of the affected aircraft. One loss of control incident was considered to be a result of aileron flutter, which had occurred at a lower than normal speed because the ailerons had suffered structural degradation, caused by a flap/aileron overspeed at some time prior to the incident.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate the safety and operation of civil aviation within Australia. Within this extensive regulatory framework, Part 39 outlines specific directives concerning airworthiness, ensuring the safety of aircraft operations. The problem this legislation addresses is the maintenance and safety compliance of aircraft, particularly in response to reported structural issues that could lead to loss of control. The objective of this particular directive is to mandate inspections and modifications to the aileron structures of specified N22 and N24 series aeroplanes to mitigate the risk of structural failure and ensure continued airworthiness. This directive was introduced to address specific concerns raised by the manufacturer regarding buckling of aileron leading edge skin, which had led to incidents of loss of control.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued this directive under the authority conferred by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, aiming to enhance the safety standards of civil aviation. The policy objective is to ensure that all affected aircraft are inspected and modified to prevent potential failures that could compromise flight safety. By enforcing these specific requirements, CASA seeks to maintain high safety standards and protect both operators and passengers within the Australian civil aviation industry.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, govern the application of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This particular directive, AD/GAF-N22/64, applies to the N22 and N24 series aeroplanes equipped with certain aileron parts, though it excludes aircraft LS62, 119, and those numbered 159 to 165. The directive mandates an inspection and modification of the aileron structure to address issues of buckling and structural degradation, as identified by the manufacturer following several incidents of aileron failure. The directive's requirements must be fulfilled within a specific timeframe post the directive's issuance date of 28 October 1992, with inspections completed within 50 hours of the aircraft's time in service and modifications made prior to 31 December 1993. The directive's application is national in scope, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and its requirements are to be strictly adhered to by all relevant operators within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives concerning the GAF N22 and N24 Series Aeroplanes. This regulation applies to aileron structure and requires inspections and modifications to the ailerons to address known issues of structural integrity. According to Section AD/GAF-N22/64, the directive applies to Model N22 and N24 Series aeroplanes equipped with specific aileron parts numbers, with the exception of aircraft LS62, 119, and 159 to 165. The key requirement outlined in this section is the inspection and modification of the ailerons in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-57-9.
The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties governed include conducting a thorough inspection of the aileron structure to identify any signs of buckling or structural degradation. This inspection must be carried out within 50 hours of time in service after 28 October 1992. Additionally, the regulation mandates the incorporation of Modification N634, as detailed in the Accomplishment Instructions of ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-57-9, before 31 December 1993. These obligations are crucial to ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft by preventing potential loss of control due to aileron-related issues.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, non-compliance with airworthiness directives is generally considered a breach of civil aviation safety regulations. This can potentially lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including the grounding of the aircraft, administrative penalties, and possible prosecution under other sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The severity of penalties can vary based on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, with potential maximum penalties including substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals found guilty of serious safety breaches.