COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/P68/48 Nose Landing Gear Cracking 5/2000
Applicability: P68 Observer, P68 Observer 2 and P68TC Observer up to and including S/n 400. Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Vulcan Air Service Bulletin No. 98 dated 31 July 1999.
Note: RAI AD 2000-004 refers.
Compliance: At the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after the effective date of this directive, or before 18 May 2001 whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 May 2000.
Background: The manufacturer reports that cracks and crack initiations have been found in the upper strut of the NLG.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 7 April 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address the need for maintaining airworthiness standards to ensure safety in civil aviation. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B05375, is part of a series of Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The specific directive AD/P68/48 pertains to the Partenavia P68 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the issue of nose landing gear (NLG) cracking. The directive mandates inspections to be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's service bulletin, aiming to identify and rectify potential safety hazards. This action was introduced following reports of cracks and crack initiations in the upper strut of the NLG, with the goal of ensuring continued airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft. The directive became effective on 18 May 2000, requiring compliance at the next maintenance inspection following this date or before 18 May 2001, whichever comes first.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically applies to Partenavia P68 series aeroplanes, namely the P68 Observer, P68 Observer 2, and P68TC Observer, up to and including serial number 400. This directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates that an inspection be conducted in accordance with Vulcan Air Service Bulletin No. 98 dated 31 July 1999 to address the issue of nose landing gear cracking. The requirement to comply with this directive must occur at the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue after the effective date of this directive, or before 18 May 2001, whichever comes first. This directive became effective on 18 May 2000, and its issuance was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 2000. The AD is applicable nationally within the Australian jurisdiction and extends to all relevant aircraft within the specified serial numbers.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, detail the requirements for ensuring the airworthiness of certain aircraft, including Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes. Section 39.1 (1) of these Regulations empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs). One such directive, AD/P68/48, pertains to nose landing gear cracking in Partenavia P68 Series Aeroplanes. This directive is issued under the authority of a CASA delegate, as indicated in the background information, and it is effective from 18 May 2000. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 2000.
This Airworthiness Directive applies to Partenavia P68 Observer, P68 Observer 2, and P68TC Observer aircraft, up to and including serial number 400. The directive mandates that inspections be conducted in accordance with Vulcan Air Service Bulletin No. 98, dated 31 July 1999. The inspection is required to be performed during the next scheduled maintenance release inspection after the effective date of the directive or before 18 May 2001, whichever comes first. The requirement to comply with this directive is explicitly stated to ensure the aircraft remain airworthy and safe for operation.
The obligations imposed by this AD are stringent and clear. Operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the specified inspections are conducted by qualified personnel following the procedures outlined in the referenced service bulletin. Failure to comply with the directive could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and legal consequences. The directive is designed to mitigate the risk of structural failure due to nose landing gear cracking, which could have catastrophic implications during landing.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives within the text provided. However, non-compliance with such directives can result in severe consequences, including fines, penalties, and potential criminal charges under Australian aviation law. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance and the resultant risk to aviation safety. The safety of all passengers and crew is paramount, and the enforcement of these directives is crucial to maintaining high standards of airworthiness.