AD/IAI-W/6 - Audio Intercom System - Warning Placard and Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address various aspects of civil aviation safety, including the implementation of airworthiness directives. One such directive is AD/IAI-W/6, issued to address a specific safety issue identified with the Israel Aircraft Industries 1123 and 1124 (Westwind) Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced in response to a reported incident where a resistor in the audio intercom system overheated and caused a fire on the ground. Although similar overheating issues had been identified in Australian aircraft of this type, they had not escalated to the point of causing a fire. The directive mandates the installation of a warning placard and a modification to the audio intercom system to mitigate the risk of overheating and subsequent fire. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1981, aligning with the Federal Aviation Administration's Emergency Airworthiness Directive 81-07-07 dated 20 March 1981. The overarching policy objective is to enhance the safety standards of civil aviation by promptly addressing identified safety risks.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, specifically target the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1123 and 1124 (Westwind) series aeroplanes with the Airworthiness Directive AD/IAI-W/6, which mandates a modification to the audio intercom system and the addition of a warning placard. This directive applies to all models 1123, 1124, and 1124A with serial numbers ranging from 151 to 315, excluding aircraft with serial numbers 294, 296, 297, 309, 310, and 314. The requirement to comply with this directive must be met within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 31 May 1981. The directive refers to IAI Service Bulletins WW-25 for Model 1123 aeroplanes and WW-24-23 for Model 1124 and 1124A aeroplanes, and notes a corresponding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Emergency Airworthiness Directive 81-07-07 dated 20 March 1981. This regulation extends to the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing compliance on relevant aircraft within its jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes provisions related to the airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models. Under this part, AD/IAI-W/6 pertains to Israel Aircraft Industries 1123 and 1124 (Westwind) series aeroplanes, focusing on the audio intercom system warning placard and modification. This directive applies to all models 1123, 1124, and 1124A with serial numbers ranging from 151 to 315, excluding 294, 296, 297, 309, 310, and 314 (Section 105). The required documentation for compliance includes IAI Service Bulletin WW-25 for Model 1123 aeroplanes and IAI Service Bulletin WW-24-23 for Models 1124 and 1124A aeroplanes (Section 105). It is noted that this directive references FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive 81-07-07 dated 20 March 1981. The obligations imposed by AD/IAI-W/6 necessitate compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1981. This requirement is intended to address an issue where a resistor in the intercom system overheated, leading to a fire in an overseas incident. A similar issue was identified in Australian aircraft of this type, although it did not escalate to the point of initiating a fire (Section 105). Compliance with this directive is critical to prevent potential fire hazards associated with the intercom system. The consequences of non-compliance with AD/IAI-W/6 can be severe. Although the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance within this directive, failure to adhere to airworthiness directives can result in significant civil and criminal consequences. Civil penalties may include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft, while criminal penalties could involve prosecution of individuals responsible for the non-compliance. The seriousness of the issue, given the risk of fire, underscores the importance of timely and accurate compliance to ensure the safety of all personnel and passengers involved.