AD/MSR/30 Amdt 1 - Nose Landing Gear Attachment Fitting

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, include a series of regulations designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One such regulation is Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the scheduling of airworthiness directives. These directives are critical in maintaining the safety standards of aircraft by issuing specific safety instructions or requirements. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to fill the need for a comprehensive set of safety regulations governing civil aviation in Australia, addressing gaps in previous aviation safety frameworks. The policy objective behind these regulations is to ensure that all civil aviation operations within Australia comply with stringent safety standards, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the national airspace. The specific airworthiness directive in question, AD/MSR/30 Amendment 1, addresses the nose landing gear attachment fittings for the Aerospatiale Rallye series aeroplanes, specifically models MS 880, 883, 885, 886, 887, 890, 892, 893, 894, and RALLYE 100S, 100ST, 110ST, 150T, 150ST, 150SV, 150SVS, 180T, 180TS, and 235E. This directive requires compliance following a hard landing or a significant nose landing gear shimmy occurrence, mandating actions as per SOCATA Rallye SB 152-32 Amendment 1. This amendment was introduced to ensure the integrity of the attachment fittings of the nose landing gear lower arms, responding to incidents that could potentially compromise aircraft safety. The directive became effective on 7 December 1995, underscoring the ongoing commitment to safety and the continuous improvement of aviation standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the legislative instrument F2006B11330, applies to all serial numbers of Aerospatiale Rallye series aeroplanes, specifically models MS 880, 883, 885, 886, 887, 890, 892, 893, 894; and RALLYE 100S, 100ST, 110ST, 150T, 150ST, 150SV, 150SVS, 180T, 180TS, and 235E. The Act mandates that any action required in accordance with SOCATA Rallye SB 152-32 Amendment 1 must be undertaken following a hard landing or after a significant nose landing gear shimmy occurrence. This requirement is integral to maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft, ensuring compliance with safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive, which references DGAC AD 94-18-2(A)R1, became effective from 7 December 1995, and is intended to prevent potential structural failures in the nose landing gear attachment fittings. This legislation applies nationwide across Australia, falling under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and its application is not subject to any exclusions or exemptions as specified in the Civil Aviation Regulations.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this legislation are the applicability (paragraph 1) and the requirement (paragraph 2). Firstly, the applicability section (1) specifies the Aerospatiale Rallye Series Aeroplanes to which this directive applies. This includes all serial numbers of models MS 880, 883, 885, 886, 887, 890, 892, 893, 894; and RALLYE 100S, 100ST, 110ST, 150T, 150ST, 150SV, 150SVS, 180T, 180TS, and 235E. The requirement section (2) stipulates that the action must be in accordance with SOCATA Rallye SB 152-32 Amdt.1, ensuring that the nose landing gear attachment fitting is examined and potentially repaired following a hard landing or significant nose landing gear shimmy occurrence. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act are detailed in the compliance section (3). This section mandates that a thorough examination of the nose landing gear attachment fittings must be conducted following specific events, namely after a hard landing or a significant nose landing gear shimmy occurrence. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft's nose landing gear. Furthermore, the note (4) references DGAC AD 94-182(A)R1, indicating that this directive aligns with or is based on previous safety directives issued by the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC). In terms of offences, penalties, or consequences, the legislation does not explicitly state any specific penalties for non-compliance. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil or criminal consequences. These may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if non-compliance results in an accident or incident that causes harm or loss of life. The exact penalties would be determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in accordance with their regulatory framework and any relevant aviation safety legislation.