AD/ML-M4/6 - Wing Inspection Holes - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically in Part 39, address various requirements for maintaining airworthiness standards, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/ML-M4/6, pertains to Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes and mandates modifications to wing inspection holes. This directive applies to all models of Maule M-4 aeroplanes and requires compliance with the specifications provided in Maule Drawing No. W1-E622, Rev. 2, to be completed forthwith. The directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority conferred by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Cth), aiming to ensure that all aircraft within the specified series maintain requisite safety standards, thus mitigating risks associated with wing structural integrity. The policy objective is to enhance the overall safety and reliability of civil aviation operations by enforcing mandatory modifications and regular inspections.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, to mandate modifications to Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes. This directive applies universally to all models of Maule M-4 aeroplanes operating within the jurisdiction of Australia. The directive requires immediate compliance, necessitating modifications to the wing inspection holes as detailed in Maule Drawing No. W1-E622, Rev. 2, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. The AD is comprehensive in its application, encompassing all Maule M-4 Series aeroplanes without any stated exemptions or exclusions, thus ensuring a uniform standard of safety across the fleet. While the AD itself is clear and direct in its requirements, CASA may extend or further define the application of this directive through subordinate instruments, ensuring compliance is both precise and enforceable.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, section 105, outline the requirements for airworthiness directives related to aircraft modifications. One such directive, AD/ML-M4/6, pertains to Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes and mandates modifications to the wing inspection holes. This directive applies to all models of the Maule M-4 series (105.33(a)) and requires compliance with the specified modifications as detailed in Maule Drawing No. W1-E622, Rev. 2 (105.33(b)). The compliance must be achieved forthwith, meaning that the modifications must be completed without unnecessary delay (105.33(c)). Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, operators and owners of Maule M-4 Series Aeroplanes are required to adhere to the airworthiness directive AD/ML-M4/6. This includes ensuring that the modifications to the wing inspection holes are carried out in accordance with the specified drawing and within the mandated timeframe. The regulations impose a duty on these parties to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft, which includes timely compliance with such directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (105.33(d)). Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive AD/ML-M4/6 can result in civil penalties. Specifically, under section 105.33(e) of the Civil Aviation Regulations, failure to comply with an airworthiness directive can lead to penalties as prescribed by the regulations. Although the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is understood that CASA has the authority to impose fines and other sanctions for non-compliance with airworthiness directives, which can include substantial financial penalties and potential grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved (105.33(e)). The severity of the penalties may depend on the extent of non-compliance and any resultant safety risks.