AD/MiG 15/1 - Aircraft Maintenance Check

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through legislative instruments such as F2006B11276, aim to ensure the safety of aviation operations within Australia. This particular legislative instrument focuses on Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for specific types of aircraft, in this case, the Mikoyan and Gurevich (MiG 15) series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations address the critical need to establish and enforce safety standards for aircraft maintenance and operation. The primary objective is to mitigate risks associated with the operation of historical and ex-military aircraft, such as the MiG 15, by mandating specific maintenance checks and procedures. These measures are particularly crucial following incidents like the Canberra accident on 13 March 1993, which led to a grounding of all MiG 15 aircraft in Australia. Compliance with these ADs is essential not only for re-certification but also for ensuring the continued safe operation of these aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all SB Lim-1, SB Lim-2, and MiG 15 series aeroplanes within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislation mandates stringent maintenance checks and procedures to ensure the airworthiness of these aircraft. The regulations require the recording of time in service for all time-limited components, with compliance to approved life limits, and stipulate specific inspections and tests to be performed on the aircraft's tail section, engine, and fuel systems. These checks include an idle speed engine run, removal and inspection of the tail section, an engine ground run, and periodic inspections of the engine and rear fuel tank installation. Compliance with these directives is essential for aircraft to be issued or continue to hold a "Permit to Fly for Historical and Ex-Military Aircraft." Notably, this legislation does not guarantee airworthiness on its own but is a critical component in ensuring the safe operation of these historic aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) pertaining to the Mikoyan and Gurevich (MiG 15) series aeroplanes, identified as AD/MiG 15/1. This legislation mandates specific maintenance checks for all SB Lim-1, SB Lim-2 and MiG 15 series aeroplanes to ensure their airworthiness. The directive requires operators to establish and record the time in service for all time-limited components and ensure compliance with the approved life limits as per the CAA letter dated 10 August 1993. This requirement is intended to address critical safety concerns identified in previous incidents. Operators of these aircraft must conduct an idle speed engine run and remove the aircraft tail section for inspection, focusing on the rear fuel tank installation, exhaust section heat blanket, tail pipe, jet nozzle, exposed flexible hoses, and sealing of the refuelling port surroundings and filler cap. The inspection must also include the upper and lower fuel pumps, the Barometric Pressure Control (BPC) vent gauze, jet (exhaust) pipe, and measurement of the turbine blade tip clearance. Following the inspection, the cockpit EGT indicators must be marked with a "red radial" line at the maximum permissible temperature for take-off relevant to the installed engine, and a calibration check of the EGT indicating system and the engine RPM indicating system must be performed. The aircraft must be reassembled after these checks. Further, the AD stipulates that an engine ground run must be conducted to verify the correct setup for the upper and lower engine fuel pumps, isolation valve operation, and maximum RPM setting. Additionally, appropriate fuselage access panels must be removed to inspect the engine and rear fuel tank installation for condition and evidence of flammable fluid leakage. These inspections must be completed before the aircraft is allowed to fly if it already has a "Permit to Fly for Historical and Ex-Military Aircraft" or before such a permit is issued. Specific checks must be performed at intervals of 50 hours time in service and 10 hours in service, and certain checks must be completed before the first flight of the day. Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to significant operational restrictions or grounding. Non-compliance may also result in penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which could include fines and imprisonment for serious breaches. The maximum penalties for such offences are stipulated in the relevant sections of the Act and can vary depending on the severity of the breach.