AD/MU-2/51 - Autopilot Engage Switch Guard

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, form a comprehensive legal framework governing all aspects of civil aviation within Australia. One such regulation, specifically outlined in Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives for the Mitsubishi MU-2 Series Aeroplanes, with a focus on the autopilot engage switch guard as detailed in AD/MU-2/51. This legislative instrument was introduced to address the safety issue of unintentional autopilot engagement in Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft equipped with specific autopilot models. The policy objective is to ensure the safety of air travel by mandating compliance with manufacturer service bulletins and other relevant technical directives within a specified timeframe. This regulation applies to all MU-2 models fitted with Bendix M4C or M4D autopilots, requiring compliance with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2 Service Bulletin 076/22-008, and references JCAB TCD-3464-91. The primary aim is to prevent unintentional autopilot engagement, which could lead to significant safety risks. Compliance is mandated within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service post the directive's issuance date of 6 March 1992.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Mitsubishi MU-2 Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the autopilot engage switch guard. This legislation applies to all models of MU-2 aeroplanes equipped with Bendix M4C or M4D autopilots. The requirement outlined in the Airworthiness Directive AD/MU-2/51 mandates that actions be taken in accordance with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2 Service Bulletin 076/22-008, with additional reference to JCAB TCD-3464-91. Compliance with these directives must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service following 6 March 1992, the date of the directive, to prevent unintentional engagement of the autopilot and thereby enhance flight safety. The scope of this regulation is limited to the specified aircraft models and does not extend to other types of aircraft or aviation components.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/MU-2/51, require that all Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes fitted with Bendix M4C or M4D autopilots must comply with the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2 Service Bulletin 076/22-008. This is aimed at preventing unintentional engagement of the autopilot (s 105.1). Compliance with these directives is mandated within 100 hours of time in service following 6 March 1992 (s 105.2). The regulation references MHI’s Service Bulletin as the primary document outlining the required modifications and checks to ensure the autopilot engage switch guard is properly installed and functional. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose specific obligations on the operators and owners of Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes. They must ensure that the necessary actions outlined in MHI MU-2 Service Bulletin 076/22-008 are completed to comply with the Airworthiness Directive (AD). This includes verifying that the autopilot engage switch guard is installed correctly and is operational, which involves conducting thorough inspections and making any required modifications as per the bulletin (s 105.3). The regulations also mandate that these checks and modifications be documented, with records maintained for future audits and inspections by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (s 105.4). Failure to comply with the requirements stipulated in AD/MU-2/51 can lead to severe consequences. Non-compliance may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could prevent it from operating legally (s 105.5). Additionally, there are potential civil penalties for breaches of these regulations, including fines. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, the maximum penalty for not adhering to an Airworthiness Directive can be substantial, with fines reaching up to $20,000 for corporations and $4,000 for individuals (s 105.6). In more serious cases, CASA may also pursue criminal charges, which could lead to imprisonment, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to these safety directives.