COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Learjet 60 Series Aeroplanes
AD/LJ60/4 Spoiler Actuator 4/2004
Applicability: Model 60 aeroplanes, serial numbers 60-029, 60-050, 60-120 through 60-139 inclusive.
Requirement: Determine by visual inspection the serial number of the installed spoiler actuators and if the serial number is listed in Learjet Service Bulletin Service Bulletin (S/B) 60-27- 21, dated 14 December 1998 replace the spoiler actuator in accordance with Learjet Service Bulletin S/B 60-27-21.
Note: FAA AD 99-23-19 Amdt 39-11415 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished before further flight.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 15 April 2004.
Background: Failure of a spoiler actuator has occurred which could result in the spoiler panel floating and inducing an uncommanded roll of the aeroplane.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 March 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 March 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Commonwealth Government, provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation. One specific regulation within this legislative instrument is the Airworthiness Directive AD/LJ60/4 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1). This directive, published in 2004, was introduced to address the specific safety issue identified with Learjet 60 Series aeroplanes concerning the spoiler actuators. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of unsafe conditions that could lead to operational hazards, such as uncommanded roll of the aeroplane due to spoiler actuator failure. This is achieved by requiring the replacement of specified spoiler actuators on certain model aeroplanes, as determined by visual inspection and cross-referencing with relevant service bulletins.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the scope of the Airworthiness Directives issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This legislation applies to specific models of aircraft, namely the Learjet 60 Series aeroplanes, particularly those with serial numbers ranging from 60-029, 60-050, and 60-120 through 60-139 inclusive. The directive mandates that visual inspections be conducted to determine the serial numbers of installed spoiler actuators, and if these numbers match those listed in Learjet Service Bulletin (S/B) 60-27-21, dated 14 December 1998, the spoiler actuator must be replaced as per the instructions in the bulletin. This directive is effective from 15 April 2004, and compliance must be achieved before further flight if the required action has not already been completed. The AD is issued by a CASA delegate, ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under consideration, specifically AD/LJ60/4, targets Learjet 60 Series Aeroplanes with certain serial numbers, namely 60-029, 60-050, and 60-120 through 60-139 inclusive (AD/LJ60/4). The directive mandates that aircraft operators visually inspect the serial numbers of the installed spoiler actuators and, if the serial number matches those listed in Learjet Service Bulletin (S/B) 60-27-21 dated 14 December 1998, they must replace the spoiler actuator following the instructions provided in the aforementioned service bulletin (AD/LJ60/4). This directive is a direct response to identified safety concerns, specifically instances where spoiler actuator failure could lead to an uncommanded roll of the aeroplane, posing a significant risk to flight safety (AD/LJ60/4). The directive becomes effective on 15 April 2004, and it must be adhered to unless the specified action has already been completed prior to further flight (AD/LJ60/4).
Operators of Learjet 60 Series Aeroplanes within the specified serial number range are obligated to conduct the visual inspection of the spoiler actuators as per the directive and replace any actuators that match the serial numbers listed in the Learjet Service Bulletin S/B 60-27-21 (AD/LJ60/4). The replacement process must strictly follow the detailed instructions provided in the service bulletin to ensure safety and compliance. The directive underscores the importance of timely action, requiring that the specified actions be taken before any further flight of the affected aircraft (AD/LJ60/4).
Failure to comply with the AD/LJ60/4 could lead to severe safety risks, given that the directive is issued to address a known issue of spoiler actuator failure that can induce an uncommanded roll of the aeroplane. While the regulations do not explicitly detail civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance, the overarching framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) implies that failure to adhere to ADs can result in serious consequences, potentially including grounding of the aircraft, legal action, and significant financial penalties. The seriousness of the safety issue addressed by this AD suggests that non-compliance could be treated with utmost severity under aviation law.