COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Helio Courier Series Aeroplanes
AD/HELIO/1
Amdt 1
Applicability: All models.
Wing Centre Section Main Spar Carry Thru Assembly
1/87
Requirement: 1. For aircraft incorporating wing main spar centre section carry thru assembly P/N 295-030-401, inspect the carry- thru assembly in accordance with Para B) of FAA AD 82-16-08.
2. Modify the wing centre section carry-thru assembly P/N 391-030-401 or 295-030- 401 as applicable, by installing a full span (wing joint to wing joint) fail safe reinforcement of the lower tube in accordance with a scheme approved by the Secretary. FAA STC’s SA 1590CE and SA 1728CE, respectively, are approved schemes.
3. After modification in accordance with 2 above, inspect the carry-thru assembly in accordance with Para D) of FAA AD 82-16-08.
Compliance: For Para 1: At intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service, until modified in
accordance with Para 2.
For Para 2: For land planes - prior to exceeding 2000 hours time in service.
For float planes or aircraft which have at any time had floats installed - prior to exceeding 2000 hours equivalent land plane time in service. To convert float plane time to equivalent land plane time, multiply by two.
For Para 3: At intervals not exceeding 1500 hours time in service.
Background: Fatal accidents have occurred overseas as a result of fatigue failures of the wing spar carry-thru assembly lower tube or end fitting. This Directive combines the requirements of the previous AD/HELIO/1 and AD/HELIO/3 Amdt 1 but provides for fail safe reinforcement modification rather than retirement. Most importantly, it eliminates confusion over the “modification” aspect of those earlier AD’s; it was not clear that the modification referred to is the joint to joint straps across the full span of the lower tube, rather than the end reinforcement only (ie. the P/N 295-030-401 configuration).
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, introduced the regulation to address critical safety concerns associated with the Helio Courier Series Aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were established to ensure that civil aviation in Australia is conducted with the highest regard for safety, thereby protecting both passengers and crew. The regulation was introduced in response to fatal accidents overseas that resulted from fatigue failures in the wing spar carry-thru assembly lower tube or end fittings. The policy objective was to enhance aircraft safety by mandating modifications and inspections to prevent similar incidents in Australian-registered aircraft, thereby ensuring compliance with international safety standards and maintaining public confidence in air travel.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, mandates safety directives applicable to the Helio Courier Series Aeroplanes. The Act applies to all models of these aircraft and encompasses the inspection and modification of the wing centre section main spar carry-thru assembly. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive mandates that aircraft with specific wing main spar centre section carry-thru assemblies must undergo inspections and modifications to prevent fatigue failures, which have led to fatal accidents overseas. Compliance requires inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours for the initial inspection, and 1500 hours for the post-modification inspection, with modifications required before the aircraft reaches 2000 hours of service time, or equivalent for float planes. This directive aims to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the Helio Courier Series Aeroplanes by clearly specifying the required modifications and inspection intervals.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 concerning the Helio Courier Series Aeroplanes are primarily focused on ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft's wing centre section main spar carry-thru assembly. Section 1 mandates that any aircraft with a wing main spar centre section carry-thru assembly P/N 295-030-401 should be inspected in accordance with Para B) of FAA AD 82-16-08 (section 1). Furthermore, section 2 requires a modification to the wing centre section carry-thru assembly, which involves the installation of a full span fail safe reinforcement of the lower tube in accordance with an approved scheme (section 2). Lastly, section 3 requires an inspection after the modification in accordance with Para D) of FAA AD 82-16-08 (section 3).
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 impose several obligations on the parties involved. The primary obligation is for the aircraft operator to ensure that the inspections and modifications outlined in the Directive are performed. Specifically, operators must inspect the carry-thru assembly at intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until the modification is made (section 1). After the modification, operators must inspect the assembly at intervals not exceeding 1500 hours time in service (section 3). The modification itself must be carried out by an approved entity and must involve the installation of a full span reinforcement as per an approved scheme, such as FAA STC’s SA 1590CE and SA 1728CE (section 2).
Failure to comply with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and the associated Airworthiness Directives can lead to serious consequences. The Act does not explicitly state the offences, penalties, or consequences for breach in the provided text. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can generally lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory sanctions. The severity of these penalties can vary, but they are intended to ensure that all aircraft remain airworthy and safe to operate.