COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Instruments and Automatic Pilots
AD/INST/28 A.R.C. PA1050A Actuator and DA-1050A Decoupler Adapter - Cessna 1050A I.F.C.S. - Inspection and
Modification
11/79
Applicability: All PA-1050A actuators ARC P/N 46220-2900 S/Nos. 001 to 599 not incorporating Mod. 2 and all DA-1050A decoupler adapters ARC P/N 47720-0000 S/Nos. 001 to 389 not incorporating Mod. 1 and Mod. 3.
Document: 1. ARC Field Engineering SB No. 215; or
2. Cessna Information Letter AV79-26 (Cessna 441 aircraft).
Compliance: 1. Inspection - At intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until modified.
2. Modification - Before 30 November 1980.
Background: Actuators and decoupler adapters of ARC IF 1050A (Cessna 1050A) flight control system have corroded and failed due to inadequate protection from water.
Modifications to these units will improve their corrosion resistance.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, are designed to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and are critical in maintaining high safety standards for aircraft operations. Specifically, Part 39 of the Regulations focuses on airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules that address safety issues with aircraft, engines, propellers, and other equipment. The policy objective behind these regulations is to mitigate risks and ensure the highest possible safety standards are maintained in the Australian civil aviation industry.
One such directive, AD/INST/28, pertains to the inspection and modification of PA-1050A actuators and DA-1050A decoupler adapters on Cessna 1050A aircraft. This directive was introduced to address the problem of corrosion in these components, which had led to failures due to inadequate protection from water. The directive mandates inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service and requires modifications to be completed by a specified deadline to enhance corrosion resistance and ensure continued airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, applies to all PA-1050A actuators and DA-1050A decoupler adapters manufactured by ARC for use in the Cessna 1050A aircraft. The regulation mandates that these components, if they do not already include modifications 2 and 3 respectively, must undergo an inspection at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time and must be modified by a specified date to enhance their resistance to corrosion, which has been identified as a safety concern. This legislation has a Commonwealth reach, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive is applicable to a narrow segment of the aviation industry, specifically to certain serial numbers of the identified components, ensuring that only those units within the specified serial number ranges are subject to the requirements of this regulation. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions, and compliance is mandatory for the specified components within the stipulated timeframes. The regulation extends its application through the reference to specific documents, such as the ARC Field Engineering SB No. 215 and Cessna Information Letter AV79-26, which provide detailed guidance on the inspection and modification processes.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, outlines a series of safety directives under which certain aircraft components must be inspected and modified to ensure airworthiness. Section 107, which concerns the authority’s schedule of airworthiness directives, includes AD/INST/28 (A.R.C. PA1050A Actuator and DA-1050A Decoupler Adapter - Cessna 1050A I.F.C.S. - Inspection and Modification 11/79). This directive mandates specific actions for certain PA-1050A actuators and DA-1050A decoupler adapters used in Cessna aircraft to prevent corrosion-related failures.
Entities governed by these regulations, including aircraft manufacturers, operators, and maintenance providers, are required to comply with the outlined inspection and modification procedures. Specifically, for PA-1050A actuators with serial numbers ranging from 001 to 599 and not incorporating modification 2, and for DA-1050A decoupler adapters with serial numbers from 001 to 389 not incorporating modifications 1 and 3, inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time. Moreover, any modifications necessary to enhance corrosion resistance must be completed by 30 November 1980.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance may result in enforcement actions, including fines and potential criminal charges. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specify that penalties for violations of airworthiness directives can include fines of up to $20,000 for individuals and significantly higher amounts for corporations, reflecting the severity of the potential safety risks associated with non-compliance. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has the authority to suspend or revoke airworthiness certificates, further underscoring the importance of adhering to these regulations.