COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piaggio P166 Series Aeroplanes
AD/P166/30 Nose Wheel Steering - Inspection and Modification 3/65
Applicability: All models fitted with girder P/N 4105-033 which have accumulated more than 1600 hours time in service.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the girder P/N 4105-033 in the area of the welds attaching the fixed pivot for the steering actuator.
2. Replace girder P/N 4105-033 with a reinforced girder P/N 4105-016B or modify girder P/N 4105-033 in accordance with a scheme approved by the Secretary. Piaggio SB No. P166-44 refers.
Compliance: For para. 1 - At intervals not exceeding 100 hours time in service until modified in accordance with para. 2.
For para. 2 - Within the next 500 hours time in service after 1 April 1965.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, address the safety of aircraft by setting out directives to ensure airworthiness. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations are designed to fill gaps in aviation safety standards by providing specific directives for aircraft maintenance and modification. The policy objective of this legislation is to ensure that civil aviation operations are conducted in a safe and efficient manner, thereby protecting the public and enhancing the integrity of the aviation industry. One such directive, AD/P166/30, concerns the Piaggio P166 Series Aeroplanes and mandates the inspection and modification of the nose wheel steering girder to prevent structural failure due to wear and tear, thus maintaining the aircraft's airworthiness and safeguarding against potential accidents.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety directives for aircraft operated within Australia, ensuring compliance with stringent standards to maintain airworthiness. The Airworthiness Directive AD/P166/30 applies to all models of the Piaggio P166 Series aeroplanes that are fitted with girder P/N 4105-033 and have accumulated more than 1600 hours of time in service. This directive mandates inspections and modifications to ensure the structural integrity of the nose wheel steering system. Operators of these aircraft must adhere to the specified inspection intervals and replacement or modification requirements to ensure compliance with the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive's applicability is national, impacting all operators within Australia who fly Piaggio P166 Series aeroplanes meeting the specified criteria. The regulations do not provide specific exclusions or exemptions, indicating that all affected aircraft must comply with the stipulated safety measures. Compliance with this directive is critical, as it directly pertains to the safety and operational reliability of the affected aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, in the context of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes a specific directive for Piaggio P166 Series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/P166/30 pertains to nose wheel steering and mandates inspections and modifications (AD/P166/30). This directive applies to all Piaggio P166 Series aeroplanes fitted with girder part number 4105-033 that have accumulated more than 1600 hours of service time (AD/P166/30, Applicability). The requirement outlined in this directive is twofold: first, to inspect the girder in the area of the welds attaching the fixed pivot for the steering actuator (AD/P166/30, Requirement 1); and second, to either replace the girder with a reinforced version (P/N 4105-016B) or modify it in accordance with a scheme approved by the Secretary (AD/P166/30, Requirement 2). Reference to Piaggio Service Bulletin No. P166-44 is provided for further guidance on the modifications.
Entities governed by this directive are required to adhere to strict compliance schedules. For the inspection requirement (AD/P166/30, Compliance, para. 1), inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of service time until the girder is modified as per the second requirement. For the modification requirement (AD/P166/30, Compliance, para. 2), the action must be completed within the next 500 hours of service time following 1 April 1965. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aeroplane being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding and other regulatory actions.
Breach of the requirements stipulated in AD/P166/30 can have significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, in conjunction with other relevant aviation legislation, may impose both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties can include fines, while criminal penalties might involve imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The exact penalties are not specified in the directive itself but are detailed in broader aviation legislation and enforced by CASA. Non-compliance can also result in operational restrictions or the revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, which severely impacts the ability to legally operate the aircraft.