AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/INST/8 Amdt 3 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.
Instruments and Automatic Pilots
AD/INST/8
Amdt 4
Instruments in VFR Aircraft 8/2003 DM
Applicability: Airspeed indicators, altimeters, pitot static systems, fuel quantity gauges and compasses installed in aircraft which are aircraft not approved for IFR operations.
Requirement: An operator must elect one of the following options:
- Pressure altimeters - Test the altimeter in accordance with the requirements of USA Federal Aviation Regulations Part 43 Appendix E. or
2. Check the integrity of all aircraft instruments and instrument systems in accordance with the requirements previously specified in AD/INST/8 Amdt 3.
Compliance: For Requirement 1: At intervals not to exceed 24 months. Or For Requirement 2:
(a) At intervals not to exceed three years, or
(b) At the intervals approved in accordance with a System of Maintenance for the aircraft pursuant to Civil Aviation Regulations 42M. or
This Amendment becomes effective on 16 July 2003.
Background: Amendment 2 was issued to clarify applicability.
Amendment 3 was issued to correct reference data and to delete superseded material.
This amendment is issued to align the maintenance and interval requirements to those being introduced with the issue of CASR Part 43 and Part 91.
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Instruments and Automatic Pilots
AD/INST/8 Amdt 4 (continued)
The requirements and intervals of AD/INST/8 Amdt 3 have been retained for those operators who wish to continue to maintain their aircraft instruments in accordance with the requirements of Amdt 3 and intervals in the interim period until the CASR Part 43 and Part 91 come into effect.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 26 June 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.
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Instruments and Automatic Pilots
NOTE: The previous version of AD/INST/8 Amdt 3 has been included for reference.
AD/INST/8 Amdt 3 Instruments in VFR Aircraft 7/92
Applicability: Airspeed indicators, altimeters, pitot static systems, fuel quantity gauges and compasses installed in aircraft which are aircraft not approved for IFR operations.
Requirement: The integrity and accuracy of the instruments and pitot static systems shall be checked in accordance with the requirements of:
(a) Civil Aviation Orders Sections 108.6 and 108.56, or
(b) Airworthiness Directive AD/INST/9 Amdt 5. Compliance: 1. At intervals not to exceed three years, or
2. At the intervals approved in accordance with a System of Maintenance for the aircraft pursuant to Civil Aviation Regulations 42M.
Background: Amendment 2 was issued to clarify applicability. This amendment is issued to correct reference data and to delete superseded material.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/INST/8 Amdt 4 in 2003 to address the need for aligning the maintenance and interval requirements for instruments and automatic pilots in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft. This legislative instrument revokes the previous AD/INST/8 Amdt 3 to update the maintenance requirements and intervals to those introduced with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 43 and Part 91. The AD applies to airspeed indicators, altimeters, pitot static systems, fuel quantity gauges, and compasses installed in aircraft not approved for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations. The primary objective of this amendment is to ensure that these aircraft maintain safe operational standards by providing clear and updated guidelines for the inspection and maintenance of their instruments. Operators are required to either test the altimeter in accordance with USA Federal Aviation Regulations Part 43 Appendix E or check the integrity of all aircraft instruments and instrument systems in line with the previously specified requirements in AD/INST/8 Amdt 3. The compliance intervals are set at not exceeding 24 months for the altimeter test or up to three years for the comprehensive instrument system checks, with additional flexibility provided under an approved System of Maintenance.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive AD/INST/8 Amdt 4 applies to airspeed indicators, altimeters, pitot static systems, fuel quantity gauges, and compasses installed in aircraft that are not approved for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations. This means the directive is relevant to visual flight rules (VFR) aircraft and their respective operators. The directive's scope extends throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, as it is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive provides operators with two options for ensuring the airworthiness of specified aircraft instruments, either by testing the pressure altimeter in accordance with USA Federal Aviation Regulations Part 43 Appendix E or by checking the integrity of all aircraft instruments and systems as previously specified in AD/INST/8 Amdt 3. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved at specified intervals, not exceeding 24 months for the first option or up to three years or at approved intervals in accordance with a System of Maintenance for the aircraft pursuant to Civil Aviation Regulations 42M for the second option. This directive supersedes AD/INST/8 Amdt 3, but the previous requirements and intervals are retained for operators who wish to continue using the older standards until the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 43 and Part 91 come into effect.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD), numbered AD/INST/8 Amdt 4, pertains to airspeed indicators, altimeters, pitot static systems, fuel quantity gauges, and compasses installed in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) aircraft, which are not approved for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations. The directive requires operators to choose between two options for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of these instruments. Option one involves testing the pressure altimeter in accordance with the USA Federal Aviation Regulations Part 43 Appendix E at intervals not to exceed 24 months. Option two requires a comprehensive check of all aircraft instruments and instrument systems in line with the previously specified requirements in AD/INST/8 Amdt 3. For this option, the check can be conducted either at intervals not to exceed three years or at the intervals approved according to a System of Maintenance for the aircraft under Civil Aviation Regulations 42M.
Operators must comply with these requirements to ensure the continued airworthiness of their aircraft. This involves meticulous adherence to the testing and checking protocols outlined in the AD. The directive mandates that the pressure altimeter must be tested within a 24-month interval, while other instruments must be checked either within a three-year interval or as per the approved maintenance schedule under Civil Aviation Regulations 42M. This ensures that the instruments remain reliable and safe for operation, thereby maintaining the overall safety standards of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to civil or criminal consequences. The severity of the penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose administrative penalties, including fines, against the operators who fail to adhere to the AD requirements. In cases where non-compliance leads to accidents or incidents, operators may face more severe penalties, including prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which could result in substantial fines or imprisonment. The exact penalties would be determined by the specific circumstances of the breach and the discretion of the relevant authorities.