COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Grob G115 Series Aeroplanes
AD/GROB 115/13 Rear Fuselage Bulkhead 1/99 DM
Applicability: All Grob models G115C2 and G115D.
Requirement: 1. Remove the Antispin strake and fuselage closure fairing from under the horizontal stabiliser to gain access to the rear fuselage bulkhead. See Figure 1.
2. Inspect along the upper edge of the bulkhead, looking for cracking, disbonding and crazing in the shaded areas shown in Figure 2. Using a light and a mirror through the access hole in the bulkhead, similarly inspect the upper edge on the front of the bulkhead.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Compliance: Unless inspected within the last 50 hours time in service, inspect within 50 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD. Re-inspect every 100 hours time in service, until the whole upper edge of the bulkhead, including its attachment to the fuselage skin, is modified or repaired in accordance with a design approved by Grob or a CAR 35 delegate or authorised person.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 November 1998.
Background: Aircraft have been found with cracks in the bulkhead and disbonding of the flange of the bulkhead from the fuselage skin. Such defects weaken the attachment of the whole tail assembly.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the "Civil Aviation Regulations 1998" to establish comprehensive safety standards and procedures for civil aviation in Australia. This legislation aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations, addressing the need for a robust regulatory framework to govern the aviation industry. The problem it addresses is the identification and mitigation of safety risks associated with aircraft operations. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Australian Parliament to provide a cohesive set of rules and directives that govern all aspects of civil aviation, including aircraft design, maintenance, and operational standards. The policy objective of this regulation is to maintain and enhance the safety of civil aviation by setting forth stringent airworthiness standards and ensuring compliance through regular inspections and directives.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically addresses the airworthiness of aircraft with the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/GROB 115/13, pertains to the Grob G115 Series Aeroplanes, specifically the G115C2 and G115D models. The directive mandates that these aircraft must be inspected for cracks, disbonding, and crazing in the rear fuselage bulkhead to ensure structural integrity. This directive applies to all aircraft of the specified models and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Compliance with this directive is mandatory unless the inspection has been completed within the last 50 hours of service time, in which case, it must be performed again within 50 hours after the effective date of the directive and subsequently every 100 hours of service time. This directive became effective on 25 November 1998, and its implementation is crucial to prevent structural weaknesses in the tail assembly of the aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, sets forth the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes specific directives for various aircraft types, such as the Grob G115 series aeroplanes (sections referenced in parentheses). For the Grob G115 Series Aeroplanes, Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/GROB 115/13 addresses issues related to the rear fuselage bulkhead (section 1). This directive applies to all Grob models G115C2 and G115D (section 2). The directive requires the removal of the Antispin strake and fuselage closure fairing under the horizontal stabiliser to allow access to the rear fuselage bulkhead for inspection (section 3). Inspectors must check the upper edge of the bulkhead for signs of cracking, disbonding, and crazing in specified shaded areas, as well as inspect the upper edge on the front side of the bulkhead using a light and mirror through an access hole in the bulkhead (section 4).
The obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that inspections are conducted in a timely and thorough manner. Specifically, if the aircraft has not been inspected within the last 50 hours of time in service, an inspection must be completed within 50 hours of the directive's effective date. Furthermore, re-inspections must occur every 100 hours of time in service until the entire upper edge of the bulkhead, including its attachment to the fuselage skin, is either modified or repaired according to a design approved by Grob or a designated CAR 35 delegate or authorised person (section 5). Compliance with these requirements is critical to maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft, particularly the tail assembly, which could otherwise be compromised due to detected defects.
Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in AD/GROB 115/13 may result in severe consequences. While the regulations do not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, which might include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory penalties. The gravity of non-compliance underscores the importance of adhering to the mandated inspection schedules and procedures to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.