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-N22/66
Amdt 2
Stub Fin Ribs 12/98
Applicability: All Nomad N22 series and N24 series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-53-16 Revision 2.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 5 November 1998 or before 10 February 1999, whichever occurs first; thereafter at intervals not to exceed 300 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first.
This Amendment becomes effective on 5 November 1998.
Background: Cracks have been found in the stub fins of the Nomad tail section fatigue test article.
Failure of the ribs would result in loss of structural stiffness in the stub fin, and possible loss of aircraft control. Amendment 1 increased the scope of the inspection to other areas of the stub fin structure.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to revision 2 of the Requirement document which was prompted by a report from an operator of a crack at the forward end of the stub fin lower diaphragm. Tailplane resonance testing also indicated possible cracking of the stub fin front corner posts below the stub fin lower diaphragm.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 September 1995.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 16 September 1993.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through the Legislative instrument F2006B10215, introduces specific airworthiness directives for the GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes, aiming to address structural issues identified in the stub fin ribs of the aircraft. This legislation was enacted to ensure the safety of the aircraft by mandating regular inspections and repairs to prevent potential structural failures that could compromise control of the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), under the auspices of the Australian Government, introduced these directives to address a critical safety gap identified through operational reports and structural testing. The primary policy objective of this directive is to maintain the airworthiness of the specified aircraft models by requiring timely inspections and adherence to the instructions outlined in the ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-53-16 Revision 2, thereby mitigating the risk of catastrophic failure due to structural defects.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Nomad N22 series and N24 series aircraft. This regulation mandates adherence to ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-53-16 Revision 2, which was prompted by findings of cracks in the stub fins of the Nomad tail section fatigue test article. Failure of the ribs in this area could lead to loss of structural stiffness in the stub fin, potentially resulting in loss of aircraft control. The directive requires inspections to be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after 5 November 1998 or before 10 February 1999, whichever occurs first, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first. This airworthiness directive became effective on 5 November 1998 and follows amendments that have progressively expanded the inspection scope in response to reports of structural failures and resonance testing indicating possible cracking in the stub fin structure.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, outline the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the GAF N22 and N24 Series Aeroplanes, identified as AD/GAF-N22/66 Amendment 2 (subsection (1)). This legislation mandates action to be taken in accordance with the ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-53-16 Revision 2 (subsection (2)). The primary requirement of this directive is for compliance to be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 5 November 1998, or before 10 February 1999, whichever occurs first. Subsequent compliance must occur at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first (subsection (3)). The amendment was made effective on 5 November 1998.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities it governs. All Nomad N22 series and N24 series aircraft are required to adhere to these directives (subsection (4)). Operators of these aircraft must ensure that inspections and necessary actions are carried out in line with the ASTA Nomad Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-53-16 Revision 2 (subsection (2)). Compliance must be achieved within the specified timeframes, and thereafter, at intervals not exceeding the prescribed limits (subsection (3)). These obligations are intended to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft by addressing potential structural issues in the stub fin ribs.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. The legislation does not explicitly state penalties or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, but non-compliance with CASA directives can potentially lead to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory measures that could impact the operation of the aircraft. The specific penalties would be determined based on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.