AD/LA-4/18 - Trim Actuating Cylinder Bracket - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate civil aviation safety, ensuring the safe and orderly development of civil aviation in the country. This legislation includes specific safety directives, such as the Airworthiness Directive AD/LA-4/18, which addresses a safety concern identified in certain models of the Consolidated Aeronautics, Colonial, and LA-4 Series Aeroplanes. The directive mandates inspections of the trim actuating cylinder bracket on all LA-4 and LA-4-200 models with serial numbers between 144 and 650, to ensure that four specific rivets securing the trim actuating bracket lower flange to the fin rib were correctly installed during manufacture. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate potential safety risks associated with the omission of these critical rivets, thereby enhancing overall aircraft safety and reliability.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, mandates airworthiness directives that are essential for maintaining the safety of civil aviation. One such directive, AD/LA-4/18, pertains to the inspection of the trim actuating cylinder bracket for specific models of aircraft. This directive applies to all LA-4 and LA-4-200 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 144 to 650. The directive was issued in response to potential manufacturing defects where the four rivets securing the trim actuating bracket lower flange to the fin rib might have been omitted during the manufacturing process. The directive requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 July 1979, as per the Lake Aircraft Division, Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Service Bulletin No. B-55. The directive ensures that any affected aircraft are inspected and rectified to meet the required safety standards, thereby safeguarding aviation safety within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (the Regulations), specifically Part 39, Section 105, provides detailed directives for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. The regulation under focus, AD/LA-4/18, concerns the inspection of the trim actuating cylinder bracket on all models LA-4 and LA-4-200 with serial numbers ranging from 144 to 650. This directive was issued on 7 July 1979 and references Lake Aircraft Division, Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Service Bulletin No. B-55. The inspection is mandated within 100 hours of time in service after the date of the directive, which was 31 July 1979. The directive was created due to a potential manufacturing oversight where the four rivets securing the trim actuating bracket lower flange to the fin rib might have been omitted during the initial manufacturing process. The primary obligation imposed by this regulation is the requirement for operators of LA-4 and LA-4-200 aircraft within the specified serial number range to conduct a thorough inspection of the trim actuating cylinder bracket. This inspection must be completed within the 100 hours time in service following the issuance of the directive. Operators must ensure that the four rivets securing the trim actuating bracket lower flange to the fin rib are present and properly installed. If any rivets are missing, corrective action must be taken to restore the bracket to a safe and airworthy condition. The regulation demands that operators keep detailed records of the inspection and any remedial actions taken. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive AD/LA-4/18 can lead to severe consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an airworthiness directive can result in civil penalties. Specifically, the maximum penalty for an individual is $10,000, while for a corporation, the penalty can be significantly higher, up to $50,000. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can take enforcement action, including grounding the aircraft until the directive is complied with, which could result in significant operational disruptions and financial loss for the operator. Non-compliance not only poses a risk to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants but also undermines the regulatory framework designed to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.