Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation. A specific legislative instrument under this act, F2006B11115, addresses the potential safety risk associated with the spoiler actuators of Gates Learjet 35 and 36 series aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to correct an unsafe condition identified in certain serial numbers of these aircraft models, thereby enhancing the overall safety standards in civil aviation. The directive mandates that specific spoiler actuators, identified by their serial numbers, be visually inspected and replaced if necessary, to prevent potential uncommanded roll incidents. This action is in response to reported failures that could compromise flight safety.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) outlined under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), specifically in Part 39 - 105, applies to certain Gates Learjet 35 and 35A series aeroplanes, namely those with serial numbers 35-065, 35-242, 35-300, 35-323, 35-447, 35-622, and 35-670. This AD mandates that operators visually inspect the serial number of their installed spoiler actuators and, if the serial number is listed in Learjet Service Bulletin SB 35-27-36 dated 14 December 1998, replace the spoiler actuator with a new one following the instructions provided in the service bulletin. The directive, effective from 27 January 2000, requires compliance within 150 flight hours after the date of the AD. This directive is applicable nationally, ensuring compliance across all jurisdictions in Australia, and is implemented to address safety concerns associated with potential spoiler actuator failures that could lead to uncommanded roll of the aeroplane.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) specifically targets Gates Learjet 35 and 36 Series aeroplanes. It applies to certain serial numbers of the Model 35 and 35A aeroplanes, namely 35-065, 35-242, 35-300, 35-323, 35-447, 35-622, and 35-670. The directive mandates that the installed spoiler actuators be visually inspected to determine their serial numbers. If the serial number matches those listed in Learjet Service Bulletin SB 35-27-36, dated 14 December 1998, the spoiler actuator must be replaced with a new one, in accordance with the service bulletin. This action is necessary to rectify a condition that could result in a spoiler panel floating and inducing an uncommanded roll of the aeroplane. The directive refers to FAA AD 99-23-19 for additional context. The AD imposes clear obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft. These operators must conduct a visual inspection of the spoiler actuators and check their serial numbers against those specified in the Learjet Service Bulletin. If a match is found, the operator is required to replace the identified spoiler actuator with a new one, following the instructions provided in the service bulletin. This action must be completed within 150 flight hours after the effective date of the AD, which is 27 January 2000. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this AD can have serious consequences. Although the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can impose penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 for any failure to adhere to airworthiness directives. These penalties can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can also result in criminal charges under the Act, leading to imprisonment if found guilty in a court of law.