COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
FLS Aerospace OA7 Optica Series Aeroplanes
AD/OPTICA/1 Flying Control System Bellcrank Assemblies 2/94
Applicability: Model OA7 Optica aircraft up to and including constructors number OA7-021. Requirement: 1. Inspect in accordance with FLS Aerospace Service Bulletin B2/MSB/1.
2. Incorporate modification Kit Set B2/MKS/MSB/1
Note: UK CAA AD 015-08-93 refers.
Compliance: 1. At or before the next 50 hour inspection after 3 February 1994, and thereafter at each 50 hour inspection until modification Kit Set B2/MKS/MSB/1 is incorporated.
2. Unless already accomplished, prior to 3 February 1995.
Background: There have been several instances, after minimal system operation, of the failure of the bonding of the bearing shells to the space tubes used in the bellcrank assemblies. The bearing shells are then able to work free of the bushes at either end of the bellcranks.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B11413, were enacted to maintain and enhance aviation safety standards across Australia. This specific regulation, found in Part 39 - 105 and detailing Airworthiness Directives, was introduced to address critical safety issues related to the FLS Aerospace OA7 Optica Series aeroplanes. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under the authority of the Australian Parliament, aims to ensure that aircraft operations meet the highest safety standards, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the general public. The policy objective behind this regulation is to mitigate the risk of in-flight failures by requiring specific modifications to the flying control system bellcrank assemblies to prevent the failure of bonding between bearing shells and space tubes.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandate that operators of OA7 Optica aircraft up to constructors number OA7-021 must inspect and, if necessary, modify the bellcrank assemblies in accordance with the specified service bulletins and modification kits. This directive is in response to reported incidents where the bonding failure led to significant operational risks. Compliance is required at specific intervals, with an initial inspection and modification deadline set prior to 3 February 1995, ensuring that any affected aircraft are brought up to the necessary safety standards without delay.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate the applicability of airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models. In this instance, the directive pertains to the FLS Aerospace OA7 Optica Series Aeroplanes, up to and including constructors number OA7-021. This requirement is aimed at addressing a specific issue with the flying control system bellcrank assemblies, which have experienced failures in the bonding of bearing shells to the space tubes. To mitigate this, the directive mandates an inspection in accordance with FLS Aerospace Service Bulletin B2/MSB/1 and the incorporation of modification Kit Set B2/MKS/MSB/1. The directive necessitates compliance with these measures at or before the next 50-hour inspection following 3 February 1994, and thereafter at each 50-hour inspection until the modification kit is installed. Additionally, if not already completed, these measures must be undertaken prior to 3 February 1995. This regulatory requirement extends to all OA7 Optica aircraft within the specified constructors number range, ensuring adherence to safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, set forth the requirements for ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. In this context, AD/OPTICA/1 pertains to the flying control system bellcrank assemblies of FLS Aerospace OA7 Optica Series aeroplanes up to and including constructors number OA7-021 (Section 1). The directive mandates that an inspection must be conducted in accordance with FLS Aerospace Service Bulletin B2/MSB/1, and furthermore, requires the incorporation of modification Kit Set B2/MKS/MSB/1 (Section 2). This directive references UK CAA AD 015-08-93 for additional context.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and precise. Operators of the specified OA7 Optica aircraft must ensure that the required inspection and modifications are carried out as stipulated. The inspection must occur at or before the next 50-hour inspection following 3 February 1994 and then at each subsequent 50-hour inspection until the modification kit is incorporated. Additionally, if the modification has not already been completed, it must be done prior to 3 February 1995 (Section 1). This directive underscores the importance of regular and timely inspections to maintain the structural integrity of the bellcrank assemblies.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/OPTICA/1 can lead to serious consequences. The regulations do not explicitly outline offences or penalties in the provided text, but it is implied that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in civil or criminal liability under broader aviation safety laws. Typically, such non-compliance could lead to penalties including fines and potential grounding of the aircraft, which can have significant operational and financial repercussions for the operator. Additionally, there may be safety implications that could result in severe consequences if the underlying issue of bearing shell failure is not addressed.