AD/MSR/9 - Fuel System - Fuel Gauge Ball - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate the safety of civil aviation in the country. One of the specific pieces of legislation within this regulatory framework is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/MSR/9 concerning Aerospatiale Rallye Series Aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the problem of fuel system inaccuracies in certain models of Aerospatiale Rallye aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers within the range of 5001 to 5204. The policy objective behind this directive is to ensure that the fuel gauge ball is replaced to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft and to prevent potential safety hazards associated with fuel system failures. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved forthwith, as specified in the document.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to issue Airworthiness Directives to ensure the continued safety of aircraft operations. Specifically, Airworthiness Directive AD/MSR/9 applies to the Aerospatiale Rallye series aeroplanes, namely MS880, MS885, and MS890 series with serial numbers ranging from 5001 to 5204. This directive mandates the replacement of the fuel gauge ball within the fuel system to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft. Compliance with this directive is required immediately, with adherence to either the Rallye Service Bulletin No. 26 or the Bureau Veritas Airworthiness Specification 64-8-8. The directive applies to all aircraft falling within the specified serial number range, irrespective of their location or operator within the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby ensuring a uniform standard of safety across all relevant aircraft. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive itself, though the scope may be further defined or extended by subordinate instruments or specific regulatory interpretations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Part 39 - 105) include a schedule of airworthiness directives that pertain to specific aircraft models. One such directive, AD/MSR/9, targets the Aerospatiale Rallye Series Aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers (S/Nos.) ranging from 5001 to 5204, including the MS880, MS885, and MS890 series (Section 11/64). This directive mandates the replacement of the fuel gauge ball in the fuel system of these aircraft. The required compliance documentation is either Rallye Service Bulletin No. 26 or Bureau Veritas Airworthiness Specification 64-8-8 (Section 1). The obligations under this directive are clear and direct. Operators of the affected Aerospatiale Rallye Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the replacement of the fuel gauge ball is carried out without delay. This requirement is intended to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft, which is paramount under aviation regulations. The directive leaves no room for interpretation regarding the urgency of compliance, which must be addressed forthwith (Section 1). Failure to comply with this airworthiness directive could result in serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with such safety directives could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or even more severe penalties if the non-compliance results in a safety incident. The seriousness of airworthiness directives underscores the importance of adhering to regulatory requirements to prevent potential hazards and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.