COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes
AD/P68/19
Amdt 2
Control Wheel Shaft Universal Joint 6/95
Applicability: All Model P68, P68B, P68C, and P68C-TC series aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Partenavia Mandatory Service Bulletin 48 Revision 1.
Compliance: For aircraft with serial numbers up to and including 87, and without Kit 68-016 installed:
Within 200 hours time in service after 25 May 1995, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 200 hours time in service, until Kit 68-016 is installed.
For all aircraft with Kit 68-016 installed:
Within 200 hours time in service after 25 May 1995, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1000 hours time in service.
Background: A failure was reported of the pilot’s control wheel shaft universal joint on a local P68B. Amendment 2 is issued in response to a revision of the Requirement Document which introduces repetitive inspections.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. Part 39 - 105, specifically addressing the schedule of airworthiness directives, was introduced to mandate the maintenance and safety compliance of aircraft, thereby closing the gap in ensuring that aircraft operating within Australia's airspace meet stringent safety standards. This legislative instrument is instrumental in maintaining the high safety standards required in the aviation industry by enforcing regular inspections and adherence to specific service bulletins, such as the mandatory inspection of control wheel shaft universal joints on Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes. The policy objective behind this directive is to prevent mechanical failures that could potentially compromise flight safety, thus protecting the lives of passengers and crew.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 are overseen by the Parliament of Australia and aim to ensure that all civil aviation activities within the country comply with safety regulations and standards. The legislative instrument F2006B05346, in particular, addresses the recurring issue of control wheel shaft universal joint failures on Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes. By introducing mandatory repetitive inspections in accordance with Partenavia Mandatory Service Bulletin 48 Revision 1, the regulation seeks to mitigate the risks associated with such failures, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety and ensuring the integrity of the aircraft's control systems.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate that the Airworthiness Directives for Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes apply to all Model P68, P68B, P68C, and P68C-TC aircraft. This regulation requires compliance with Partenavia Mandatory Service Bulletin 48 Revision 1, addressing the control wheel shaft universal joint. For aircraft with serial numbers up to and including 87, and without Kit 68-016 installed, an inspection must be carried out within 200 hours of time in service after 25 May 1995, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 200 hours of time in service, until Kit 68-016 is installed. Conversely, for all aircraft that have Kit 68-016 installed, inspections must occur within 200 hours of time in service after 25 May 1995, and then at intervals not exceeding 1000 hours of time in service. This directive is issued in response to a reported failure of the pilot’s control wheel shaft universal joint on a local P68B, highlighting the importance of regular and thorough inspections to maintain airworthiness standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contains specific provisions for certain Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes. AD/P68/19 Amendment 2 outlines the mandatory requirements for inspecting and maintaining the control wheel shaft universal joint. This directive applies to all Model P68, P68B, P68C, and P68C-TC series aircraft (s. 1). The directive requires action in accordance with Partenavia Mandatory Service Bulletin 48 Revision 1 (s. 2). For aircraft with serial numbers up to and including 87, and without Kit 68-016 installed, inspections must occur within 200 hours of time in service after 25 May 1995, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 200 hours until Kit 68-016 is installed (s. 3(a)). For all aircraft with Kit 68-016 installed, inspections must be conducted within 200 hours of time in service after 25 May 1995, and then at intervals not exceeding 1000 hours of time in service (s. 3(b)).
The obligations under this directive are clear and specific. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that the control wheel shaft universal joint is inspected and maintained in accordance with the stipulated intervals. This involves following the guidelines set out in Partenavia Mandatory Service Bulletin 48 Revision 1, which includes detailed procedures for identifying and addressing potential issues with the universal joint. Owners and operators must keep records of all inspections and maintenance actions performed on the universal joint, as these records may be required for verification by CASA (s. 4).
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/P68/19 Amendment 2 can result in serious consequences. CASA may take enforcement action against operators who fail to adhere to the airworthiness directives, which could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other penalties as deemed appropriate by CASA (s. 5). The severity of the consequences underscores the importance of strict compliance with these directives to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft. Operators must be diligent in ensuring that all required inspections and maintenance actions are carried out in a timely and thorough manner to avoid any potential regulatory or safety issues.