COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Piper PA-11 (Cub) & J3 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PA-11/4 Wing Fuel Tank Cap - Modification NK
Applicability: All models. Applicable only if a wing fuel tank cap has been replaced with either tank cap P/N 15296-02 since 1 June 1976 or, tank cap P/N 60707-02 modified as per Piper SB No. 522.
Document: Piper SB No. 573.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1978.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve as a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Within this framework, Part 39 outlines the airworthiness directives for specific aircraft, addressing identified safety concerns and ensuring compliance with international standards. One such directive, AD/PA-11/4, pertains to the Piper PA-11 (Cub) and J3 Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the modification of wing fuel tank caps. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues associated with certain modifications to the wing fuel tank caps, specifically those identified in Piper Service Bulletins No. 522 and No. 573. The policy objective is to mitigate risks by ensuring that any modifications to the wing fuel tank caps meet the required safety standards, thereby enhancing the overall safety of these aircraft. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1978, underscoring the importance of timely adherence to airworthiness requirements.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on the modification of wing fuel tank caps for Piper PA-11 and J3 Series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all models of these aircraft types where a wing fuel tank cap has been replaced with either tank cap P/N 15296-02 since 1 June 1976 or tank cap P/N 60707-02 modified as per Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 522. Compliance with the modification is mandatory within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1978, as detailed in Piper SB No. 573. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, applying to all aircraft operating within Australia, as it is a Commonwealth regulation. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in this specific directive, and the regulation extends its application through the referenced subordinate instruments such as Piper SB No. 573.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105 and the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically address modifications to the wing fuel tank caps for Piper PA-11 and J3 series aeroplanes (sections referenced are AD/PA-11/4). This legislative instrument requires that all models of these aircraft, where a wing fuel tank cap has been replaced with either tank cap P/N 15296-02 after 1 June 1976 or tank cap P/N 60707-02 modified as per Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 522, must undergo a specific modification. This modification must be completed in accordance with Piper SB No. 573 and must be done within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1978.
The obligations imposed by these regulations on the parties or entities they govern primarily revolve around ensuring that the specified modifications are made within the stipulated timeframes. Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel are required to be aware of and comply with these directives to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Compliance involves inspecting the wing fuel tank cap, verifying the part numbers, and ensuring the appropriate modifications are carried out as per the specified service bulletin.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives can generally lead to civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties could include fines, and in severe cases, the grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made. From a criminal perspective, failure to adhere to these directives can result in prosecution, which may include substantial fines and imprisonment for those responsible, as airworthiness is a critical aspect of aviation safety. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the discretion of the court.