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-N22/67 Flap Components - Retirement Lives 5/94 DM
Applicability: All Nomad N22 and N24 aircraft.
Requirement: Replace the flap control rods (PN 1/N-45-1139/1140) and flap control bellcranks (PN 1/N-45-1017/1018 and -1019/1020) in accordance with ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44.
Compliance: 1.a. For flap control rods which have less than 11800 landings as at 11 March 1994, replace with new control rods before exceeding 12000 landings; and
1.b. For flap control rods which have 11800 or more landings as at 11 March 1994, replace with new control rods within 10 landings from 11 March 1994, or before exceeding 12000 landings, whichever occurs later. Replacement of these flap control rods may be deferred for up to 200 landings by satisfactory completion of an inspection in accordance with paragraph 2.B of ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44.
2.a. For flap control bellcranks which have less than 9800 landings as at
11 March 1994, replace with new bellcranks before exceeding 10000 landings; and
2.b. For flap control bellcranks which have 9800 or more landings as at 11 March 1994, replace with new bellcranks before exceeding 10000 landings, or within 10 landings from 11 March 1994, whichever occurs later. Replacement of these flap control bellcranks may be deferred for up to 200 landings by satisfactory completion of an inspection in accordance with paragraph 2.B of ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44.
Background: Although the number of landings is the important factor for determining the accumulation of fatigue damage on the flap control components, for convenience, the aircraft manufacturer originally stated their retirement lives in terms of hours (based upon an assumption of one landing per hour of flight). Since some aircraft are consistently flying short flights, with more than one landing per hour of flight, the retirement lives have been re-stated in terms of landings. As a result of this change, some aircraft may now be fitted with components which have exceeded their retirement lives. This AD is issued to ensure that these components are replaced and to make all operators aware of the revised basis for the retirement lives.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, include an airworthiness directive aimed at ensuring the safety of GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes. The legislation, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, addresses the problem of outdated flap components on these aircraft which, if not replaced, could lead to safety risks. The directive mandates the replacement of certain flap control rods and bellcranks based on the number of landings, rather than flight hours, to better account for the actual wear and tear on the components. This change is a direct response to the recognition that some aircraft are undertaking more landings per hour of flight than the original assumption, potentially causing components to exceed their retirement lives. The policy objective is to ensure that all operators of these aircraft are aware of and comply with the updated retirement lives for these critical components, thereby maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the maintenance and replacement requirements for the flap control rods and bellcranks in GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all Nomad N22 and N24 aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction. The requirement mandates the replacement of the flap control rods (PN 1/N-45-1139/1140) and flap control bellcranks (PN 1/N-45-1017/1018 and -1019/1020) in accordance with ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44. Compliance with this directive involves replacing the flap control rods if they have less than 11,800 landings by 11 March 1994, before exceeding 12,000 landings, or if they have 11,800 or more landings by that date, then within 10 landings from 11 March 1994, or before exceeding 12,000 landings, whichever occurs later. Similarly, the flap control bellcranks must be replaced if they have less than 9,800 landings by 11 March 1994, before exceeding 10,000 landings, or if they have 9,800 or more landings by that date, then within 10 landings from 11 March 1994, or before exceeding 10,000 landings, whichever occurs later. The replacement of these components may be deferred for up to 200 landings by satisfactory completion of an inspection as per the ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44. This directive is crucial in ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft models within the Australian aviation industry.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 105, mandates the safety requirements for GAF N22 and N24 series aeroplanes. This directive, known as AD/GAF-N22/67, pertains to the retirement lives of flap components, as detailed in ASTA Alert Service Bulletin ANMD-27-44. The directive applies to all Nomad N22 and N24 aircraft. It requires the replacement of the flap control rods and flap control bellcranks based on the number of landings the aircraft has completed as of 11 March 1994. The specific requirements are outlined in the directive: flap control rods must be replaced before reaching 12,000 landings, and flap control bellcranks before reaching 10,000 landings. There are also provisions for deferring the replacement of these components by up to 200 landings if a satisfactory inspection is completed in line with the bulletin's guidelines.
The obligations under this directive are clear and directive. Aircraft operators must ensure that the specified components are replaced or deferred as per the conditions set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations and ASTA Alert Service Bulletin. Operators must keep accurate records of the number of landings for each aircraft to determine when the components must be replaced or inspected. This includes maintaining documentation of any inspections that defer the replacement of these components. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken.
Breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations, including non-compliance with the requirements set out in AD/GAF-N22/67, can result in significant consequences. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose penalties, including fines, for non-compliance. The maximum penalty for contravening the regulations is $55,000 for individuals and $275,000 for corporations, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Furthermore, failure to comply with these safety directives can result in the aircraft being grounded, which has direct operational and financial implications for the operator. It is imperative that operators adhere strictly to the requirements to avoid these penalties and ensure the continued airworthiness of their aircraft.