AD/GENERAL/86 - Darwin Inspection and Testing Service Ultrasonic Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of air navigation in Australia, providing a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation safety. The regulations empower the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) to mandate safety requirements for aircraft and aeronautical products. AD/GENERAL/86, issued by CASA, addresses a specific safety concern identified during Ultrasonic non-destructive inspections performed by Darwin Inspection and Testing Service (DITS) between 1 January 2010 and 8 February 2013. CASA found that these inspections were conducted by non-authorised personnel and could not be verified as meeting the required standards. Consequently, AD/GENERAL/86 mandates that aircraft operators review their records and, where inspections by DITS are identified, those inspections must be repeated using authorised personnel. This directive aims to ensure the continuing airworthiness of affected aircraft, thereby maintaining safety standards in accordance with international obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The AD was made under the delegation powers granted to CASA by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, and it commenced on 2 August 2013.

Scope and Application

The AD/GENERAL/86 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies to any aircraft that had Ultrasonic Inspection performed by Darwin Inspection and Testing Service (DITS) within the timeframe of 1 January 2010 to 8 February 2013. CASA's directive is necessitated by the identification that during the specified period, DITS carried out Ultrasonic non-destructive inspections on aircraft using personnel who were not authorised to do so. Furthermore, CASA could not ascertain that the inspections performed by these individuals met the acceptable standards set by the authority. Additionally, DITS was unable to provide adequate records to CASA identifying the work conducted during the specified period. Consequently, CASA mandates that operators review their aircraft records and repeat any Ultrasonic non-destructive inspection tasks carried out by DITS within the identified timeframe using authorised personnel. It should be noted that CASA acknowledges that some operators have already repeated some of the required inspections, and thus, there is no further need to repeat such work. The AD applies across Australia and is part of the broader regulatory framework established under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, ensuring the continuing airworthiness of aircraft within the nation. The authority to issue such directives is delegated under subregulation 11.260(1) of CASR 1998 and section 94(1) of the Act.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) provide the framework within which the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can issue airworthiness directives (ADs) to ensure the continuing safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. Specifically, regulation 39.001 of CASR 1998 allows CASA to issue ADs for kinds of aircraft or aeronautical products. The AD in question, AD/GENERAL/86, mandates that any aircraft that underwent ultrasonic inspection by Darwin Inspection and Testing Service (DITS) between 1 January 2010 and 8 February 2013 must have their inspection records reviewed. This review is necessary because CASA has found that DITS used non-authorised personnel to conduct these inspections and cannot confirm that the inspections met CASA's standards. Furthermore, DITS cannot provide adequate records of the work performed. Therefore, AD/GENERAL/86 requires operators to repeat any ultrasonic non-destructive inspections performed by DITS during the specified period, provided that such inspections have not already been repeated using authorised personnel. CASA, as Australia's national airworthiness authority, has specific obligations under CASR 1998 to ensure the continuing safety of aircraft. When a State of Design issues an AD against a type of aircraft on the Australian Register, CASA must assess the information and, if appropriate, issue an Australian AD to enforce the requirements. In this instance, CASA issued AD/GENERAL/86 after identifying deficiencies in the ultrasonic inspections performed by DITS. Operators of aircraft are required to review their records to identify any inspections performed by DITS during the specified period and to repeat those inspections using authorised personnel, if necessary. CASA has recognised that some operators have already repeated the inspections, and these operators are not required to do so again. CASA's obligations also include ensuring that all ADs issued are compatible with international standards and that they do not infringe on human rights. Failure to comply with AD/GENERAL/86 could result in significant consequences for both operators and DITS. Non-compliance with CASA's ADs is an offence under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which allows for the imposition of penalties. While the exact penalties are not specified in the AD, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil and criminal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of maintaining the highest standards of safety in aviation to protect passengers, crew, and the general public. CASA's rigorous enforcement of ADs underscores its commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of Australia's civil aviation sector.