COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes
AD/ML-M4/12 Bucket Seats Retention - Inspection 10/78
Applicability: All model M-4-180C with S/Nos. 3001C to 3004C; All model M-4-220C with S/Nos. 2044C to 2060C.
Document: Maule SL No. 21.
Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service after 20 September 1978.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, establish comprehensive standards and guidelines for ensuring civil aviation safety within the country. These regulations, which are integral to the operation of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), address various aspects of aviation safety, including the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft. A specific instance of this regulatory framework is the airworthiness directive AD/ML-M4/12, which was introduced to address issues related to the retention of bucket seats in Maule M-4 Series aeroplanes. This directive, issued in 1978, targets particular serial numbers of the M-4-180C and M-4-220C models, requiring inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards within 25 hours of service time following 20 September 1978. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate potential safety risks associated with the specified aircraft models by mandating regular and stringent inspections of their bucket seats.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, establish a framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are regulatory measures that apply to specific aircraft models to ensure compliance with safety standards. One such directive, AD/ML-M4/12, concerns the Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes, specifically targeting the bucket seat retention inspection for models M-4-180C with serial numbers 3001C to 3004C and M-4-220C with serial numbers 2044C to 2060C. This directive requires a compliance inspection within 25 hours of time in service after 20 September 1978, as detailed in Maule Service Letter No. 21. The directive applies solely to the specified aircraft models and serial numbers, and its scope is limited to ensuring that the bucket seats are retained according to the specified safety standards. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, applying to all operations within Australia, and it is enforced by CASA. The directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, meaning that all aircraft within the specified models and serial numbers must comply with the inspection requirements.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes, designated as AD/ML-M4/12, concerning the inspection of bucket seats retention (Section 10/78). This directive applies to all model M-4-180C aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/Nos.) 3001C to 3004C and all model M-4-220C aeroplanes with S/Nos. 2044C to 2060C. Compliance with this directive must occur within 25 hours of time in service after 20 September 1978, as per Maule Service Letter (SL) No. 21.
The AD mandates that the operators of the specified Maule M-4 aeroplanes must ensure that the bucket seat retention systems are inspected. This inspection is a critical safety measure designed to verify that the seats remain securely fastened and are free from any defects or wear that could compromise the safety of the passengers during flight. The requirement is clear and applies directly to the identified serial numbers of the affected aircraft.
Operators of the affected aeroplanes must comply with the AD by conducting the necessary inspections in accordance with the specifications provided by Maule in their Service Letter No. 21. This includes checking the integrity of the seat retention mechanisms, ensuring that all components are in good working order, and that there are no signs of wear, damage, or fatigue that could lead to failure during operation. Failure to comply with these inspection requirements can result in serious safety hazards, potentially leading to accidents.
The Civil Aviation Regulations impose significant obligations on operators to adhere to ADs like AD/ML-M4/12. Non-compliance with these directives can lead to severe consequences, including potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The seriousness of these regulations underscores the importance of timely and thorough inspections to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. The regulations are designed to ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place to protect passengers and crew.
In the event of non-compliance with the AD, operators may face substantial penalties. The Civil Aviation Regulations provide for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Civil penalties can include fines up to a significant amount, depending on the severity of the breach. In more severe cases, criminal penalties may apply, including imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight of the aircraft. These stringent measures highlight the importance of adhering to the safety directives to avoid any legal repercussions and ensure the safety of all persons on board the affected aircraft.