AD/LA-4/19 - Anchor Light and Bilge Pump Wiring - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, encompass the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Specifically, AD/LA-4/19 addresses the safety issue of potential electrical fires in Consolidated Aeronautics, Colonial and LA-4 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of electrical shorts leading to fires in the power lines of the anchor light and bilge pump, a problem identified from incidents overseas. The requirement mandates the installation of a 5 amp inline fuse within 10 cm of the battery relay in the power lines for both the anchor light and bilge pump. Compliance with this directive is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1980. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of these aircraft by preventing electrical fires through the installation of a protective fuse near the battery relay, thereby reducing the length of unprotected cable.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, particularly AD/LA-4/19, pertains to a specific category of aircraft, namely Colonial C-1 and C-2, Lake LA-4, Lake LA-4P, and Lake LA-4-200 aeroplanes, provided they are equipped with an anchor light and/or bilge pump. The directive mandates the installation of a 5 amp inline fuse within 10 cm of the battery relay in the power lines supplying the anchor light and bilge pump, referencing FAA AD 79-21-09 for compliance guidelines. The requirement must be met within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 31 January 1980. This directive arises from overseas reports of electrical short-circuits causing the burning of electrical cables for the bilge pump, attributed to an unprotected length of cable between the battery relay and the bilge pump switch. By installing the fuse at the battery relay, the risk of such incidents can be mitigated. The directive applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, under the regulatory purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The primary provision of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, as consolidated in the Aeronautics, Colonial and LA-4 Series Aeroplanes AD/LA-4/19, mandates a specific modification to the wiring of the anchor light and bilge pump in certain aircraft types (section 12/79). The regulation applies to all Colonial C-1 and C-2, Lake LA-4, Lake LA-4P, and Lake LA-4-200 aeroplanes equipped with an anchor light and/or a bilge pump (section 12/79). The requirement is to install a 5 amp inline fuse within 10 cm of the battery relay in the power lines leading to both the anchor light and the bilge pump. This directive is cross-referenced with FAA AD 79-21-09 for compliance standards (section 12/79). The compliance deadline is set for within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1980. Entities governed by this regulation, such as aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers, are obligated to ensure that the specified wiring modification is implemented in accordance with the requirements outlined in the regulation (section 12/79). This includes correctly positioning the 5 amp inline fuse within the stipulated distance from the battery relay and ensuring that the installation adheres to the standards referenced by FAA AD 79-21-09. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in significant safety risks, such as the potential for electrical fires due to short circuits. The regulation does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance; however, the implications of not adhering to these safety directives are severe. Non-compliance could lead to the aircraft being deemed unsafe to operate, resulting in potential grounding of the aircraft until the necessary modifications are made. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions against the non-compliant party, which could include fines or other administrative penalties. The exact penalties would be determined based on the specific circumstances of the non-compliance and the resulting risk to aviation safety.