Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the legislative instrument F2006B05352, were enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This particular piece of legislation addresses the specific issue of the aileron control chain connector in Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes, which had been reported to pose a safety risk due to potential loss of security of the chain connector safety lock (circlip). The regulations, established under the authority of the Australian Parliament, aim to enhance aviation safety by mandating a thorough inspection and, if necessary, modification of the aileron control chain connector before further flight. The policy objective is to prevent accidents and ensure the continued airworthiness of these aircraft by adhering to the manufacturer's Service Bulletin No. 64 Revision 1. The legislative instrument specifically targets all Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes up to serial number 335, requiring compliance with the inspection and modification directive issued on 1 November 1984. The regulations allow for a one-time inspection to be performed by the pilot in command to facilitate a return to a maintenance base if necessary. The pilot must document this inspection in the maintenance release, thereby ensuring that the chain connector circlip's security is verified and maintained in accordance with the safety directives.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to civil aviation safety directives and applies to the Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes, with the legislation extending to all model P68 series aeroplanes up to serial number 335. This regulation mandates that an inspection and modification of the aileron control chain connector must be carried out before further flight after 1 November 1984. The requirement is detailed in Partenavia P68 S.B. No. 64 Rev. 1 and references RAI AD 84-146/P68-32. A one-time inspection to ascertain the security of the chain connector circlip may be performed by the pilot in command to facilitate return to a maintenance base, with access to the chain gained through fuselage access panels No. 21. The pilot is obligated to document the completion of this inspection in the maintenance release. This directive applies nationally under the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, Section 105, contain detailed safety directives that must be followed for certain types of aircraft, including the Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes. Section AD/P68/25 addresses the inspection and modification of the aileron control chain connector for all model P68 series up to serial number 335 (Section 1). This requirement is based on Partenavia P68 S.B. No. 64 Rev. 1 and references RAI AD 84-146/P68-32 (Section 1). Compliance with this directive involves conducting an inspection and making necessary modifications before any further flight after 1 November 1984 (Section 1). A one-time inspection to ensure the security of the chain connector circlip can be performed by the pilot in command to allow the aircraft to return to a maintenance base (Section 1). The inspection involves accessing the chain through fuselage access panels No. 21, and the pilot must certify this in the maintenance release (Section 1). The obligations imposed by this Act on the relevant parties include ensuring that the specified inspection and modification of the aileron control chain connector are carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Pilots are responsible for conducting the one-time inspection, provided they have the necessary access and tools, and for certifying that the inspection has been completed in the maintenance release. Maintenance personnel must then ensure that any necessary modifications are made based on the findings of the inspection. The manufacturer's bulletins and service bulletins referenced in the directive must be adhered to, ensuring that all parties involved are aware of and comply with the specific requirements outlined in the legislation. Breaching these obligations can lead to serious consequences, both civil and criminal. Under Australian aviation law, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in penalties for the aircraft owner, operator, or maintenance personnel. The maximum penalties can include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals found guilty of serious breaches. For corporations, the fines can be significantly higher. Additionally, the failure to comply with these safety directives can result in the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and modifications are completed, which can have significant operational and financial implications for the parties involved. It is crucial, therefore, that all stakeholders adhere strictly to the provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes.