COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 (Astra) Series Aeroplanes
AD/IAI-A/15 Oxygen Shut-off Valve 11/2002
Applicability: 1125 Astra aeroplanes, with serial numbers (S/N) 004 to 072 and 074 to 078 inclusive, and Astra SPX aeroplanes, with S/N 073 and 079 to 131 inclusive.
Requirement: Remove the existing oxygen shut-off valve and replace it with a Scott® slow opening valve having part number 27550-3 in accordance with Astra Alert Service Bulletin 1125-35A-114 dated 28 November 2001.
Note: Israel CAA AD 35-02-07-02 refers.
Compliance: Within 200 hours time in service after the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 31 October 2002.
Background: The oxygen system of the Astra is designed so that high oxygen pressure is maintained from the cylinder to the pressure reducer-regulator located downstream of the shut-off valve. If this valve is quickly opened, overheating and subsequent fire may occur due to rapid adiabatic compression.
This Directive requires the replacement of the existing oxygen shut-off valve with a slow opening valve.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 September 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 9 October 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to regulate civil aviation in Australia, ensuring the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations. The specific legislative instrument in question, F2006B10772, pertains to an Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address a safety issue identified in the Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 (Astra) Series Aeroplanes. The Airworthiness Directive AD/IAI-A/15, published in 2002, targets the oxygen shut-off valve in certain Astra aeroplanes to prevent potential overheating and fire hazards caused by rapid adiabatic compression when the valve is opened quickly. This directive was issued to ensure compliance with safety standards and follows a recommendation from the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority. The objective of this directive is to rectify the unsafe condition by requiring the replacement of the existing oxygen shut-off valve with a Scott® slow opening valve, as specified in the directive, to enhance the safety of the aircraft operations within the Australian jurisdiction.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This AD pertains to Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 (Astra) Series Aeroplanes, targeting those with serial numbers ranging from 004 to 072 inclusive, as well as 074 to 078, and Astra SPX aeroplanes with serial numbers 073 and 079 to 131 inclusive. The directive mandates the removal and replacement of the existing oxygen shut-off valve with a Scott® slow opening valve, part number 27550-3, in accordance with specified instructions to mitigate the risk of overheating and fire due to rapid adiabatic compression. Compliance with this AD must be achieved within 200 hours of the Directive's effective date of 31 October 2002. The AD is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced through subordinate instruments as required.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39 - 105, specifically Airworthiness Directives, provides the legal basis for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue mandatory directives aimed at ensuring the continued airworthiness of aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/IAI-A/15 pertains to the 1125 Astra aeroplanes with specific serial numbers (section 1). It mandates the replacement of the existing oxygen shut-off valve with a Scott® slow opening valve part number 27550-3, as per Astra Alert Service Bulletin 1125-35A-114 dated 28 November 2001 (section 2). The directive is effective as of 31 October 2002 and must be complied with within 200 hours of time in service after the effective date (section 3).
Entities governed by this directive, primarily operators of the affected Astra aeroplanes, must ensure that the specified modifications are carried out in accordance with the instructions provided. This includes removing the existing oxygen shut-off valve and replacing it with the Scott® slow opening valve as detailed in the referenced service bulletin. Operators must adhere to the compliance timeline, which stipulates that the modification must be completed within 200 hours of time in service after the directive becomes effective.
Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance within the text of the AD itself. However, under the broader regulatory framework of CAR 1998, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges. These penalties are intended to ensure that aircraft remain in a safe and airworthy condition, thereby protecting public safety. The exact penalties and enforcement mechanisms are detailed in other parts of the CAR 1998 and associated legislation.