Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, is the principal piece of legislation governing civil aviation in Australia. One of the key components of these regulations is Part 39, which addresses airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft in operation. The Civil Aviation (Airworthiness) Regulations 1998 (No. 2) Notice 2000, issued under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Israel Aircraft Industries 1123 and 1124 (Westwind) series aeroplanes. This directive was issued in response to a reported case of rivet failure on a windshield wiper arm, aiming to prevent potential in-flight separation of the wiper arm tip assembly. The policy objective was to mandate inspections and ensure the safety of these aircraft, with the directive becoming effective on 30 August 2000.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 105 concerning Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), applies to all aircraft operators and aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under regulation 39.1(1) pertains to Israel Aircraft Industries Models 1123, 1124, and 1124A aeroplanes. The directive mandates specific action to address a safety concern regarding the windshield wiper arms, which have been subject to reports of rivet failure. The directive requires operators to inspect the windshield wipers in accordance with the relevant service bulletins, either 1123-30A-050 or 1124-30A-142, depending on the aircraft model. The directive stipulates a compliance timeline, with inspections to be completed within 10 flight hours after 30 August 2000 for aircraft with more than 4,000 total flight hours on that date, and before 30 November 2000 for those with less than 4,000 total flight hours. This AD became effective on 30 August 2000 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on the same date.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertain to the specific requirements and compliance timeframes for inspecting the windshield wipers on Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1123 and 1124 (Westwind) Series Aeroplanes. Section (a) of the AD applies to all models 1123, 1124, and 1124A. Section (b) requires the inspection of the windshield wipers in accordance with either IAI Alert Service Bulletin 1123-30A-050 or 1124-30A-142, depending on the model. This inspection is necessary to address a reported issue of rivet failure on a windshield wiper arm, which could lead to the in-flight separation of the wiper arm tip assembly. Section (c) outlines the compliance timeframes, which are contingent on the total flight hours of the aircraft as of 30 August 2000. Aircraft with more than 4,000 total flight hours must comply within 10 flight hours after 30 August 2000, while those with less than 4,000 total flight hours must comply before 30 November 2000. The obligations and requirements imposed by this AD are specific to the inspection and potential rectification of the windshield wipers on the specified IAI aircraft models. Owners and operators of these aircraft must ensure that the inspections are conducted as per the stipulated IAI Alert Service Bulletins, which detail the necessary inspection procedures and criteria for determining the airworthiness of the windshield wipers. The AD mandates that these inspections occur within the specified timeframes to mitigate the risk of in-flight separation of the wiper arm tip assembly. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, thereby prohibiting its operation until the necessary inspections and any required repairs are completed. There are no explicit provisions detailing offences, penalties, or consequences for breach within the text of this AD itself. However, under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance with ADs can lead to significant civil and criminal consequences. These may include fines, the suspension or revocation of aircraft certificates of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges for operators who knowingly permit an unairworthy aircraft to be operated. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the non-compliance, as well as any resultant safety incidents. It is important for aircraft operators to adhere strictly to the AD's requirements to avoid such adverse outcomes.