COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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 CASR 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.
Parachute Equipment
AD/PARA/12 Parachutes de France - Emergency
Parachutes
3/2004
DM
Applicability: Parachutes de France (PdF) emergency parachutes manufactured between 1 January 1987 and 28 February 1989, with serial numbers 87 01 001 through 89 02 xxx.
Requirement: Inspect steering lines trailing edge attachment tapes of affected emergency parachutes in accordance with PdF Service Bulletin No. 2/2003, dated 19 December 2003.
Immediately remove the parachute from service if inspection reveals double sewing without back-stitching over attachment tape, as described in Figure A of the Requirement document, or evidence of any kind of failure initiation on any part of the steering attachment on and around the tape.
Note: DGAC AD F-2004-015 refers.
Compliance: Before further use after 11 February 2004.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 11 February 2004.
Background: An accident occurred when a Minimax 5 emergency parachute opened. Initial analysis of an investigation has revealed that a specific stitching type could have contributed to secondary steering line edge attachment tape failure. Failure of attachment tapes may lead to canopy control difficulties.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 February 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 February 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, amended through legislative instruments such as F2006B06057, address safety concerns in civil aviation, ensuring aircraft and aeronautical products meet required safety standards. This particular legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to correct unsafe conditions identified in specific aircraft or aeronautical products. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of aviation by mandating corrective actions, as illustrated in the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Parachutes de France (PdF) emergency parachutes manufactured between 1987 and 1989. The AD requires detailed inspection and corrective actions to be taken on steering lines trailing edge attachment tapes of these parachutes to prevent potential canopy control difficulties, thereby ensuring safer operation of these emergency parachutes.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandates the compliance of certain airworthiness directives, including the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Parachute Equipment. This AD pertains to Parachutes de France (PdF) emergency parachutes that were manufactured between 1 January 1987 and 28 February 1989, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 87 01 001 to 89 02 xxx. The directive applies to these particular products within the aviation industry, requiring specific inspection and corrective actions to address identified safety concerns. The requirement is for an inspection of the steering lines trailing edge attachment tapes, as per PdF Service Bulletin No. 2/2003, with immediate removal from service if certain defects are identified. The AD is effective from 11 February 2004 and must be complied with before further use of the affected parachutes after this date.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39, particularly section 107, mandates the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure safety standards are maintained in the aviation industry. The AD in focus, AD/PARA/12, pertains specifically to emergency parachutes manufactured by Parachutes de France (PdF) between 1 January 1987 and 28 February 1989. These parachutes must undergo a mandatory inspection of their steering lines trailing edge attachment tapes as per PdF Service Bulletin No. 2/2003. The directive stipulates that if during inspection, double sewing without back-stitching over attachment tape or any failure initiation on any part of the steering attachment on and around the tape is found, the parachute must be removed from service immediately. This directive references DGAC AD F-2004-015 and became effective on 11 February 2004, requiring compliance before further use.
Entities or individuals responsible for the maintenance and operation of the affected emergency parachutes must ensure that inspections are conducted according to the AD/PARA/12 requirements. This includes closely examining the steering lines trailing edge attachment tapes to identify any potential issues as specified in the PdF Service Bulletin No. 2/2003. Should the inspection reveal any double sewing without back-stitching over attachment tape or any evidence of failure initiation, the parachute must be immediately grounded. The directive also mandates that the identified issues be rectified before the parachute is used again, ensuring that safety standards are upheld.
Failure to comply with the AD/PARA/12 requirements can result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 impose obligations on parties to adhere to these safety directives to prevent accidents and ensure the safe operation of aircraft. Any non-compliance with these regulations can lead to enforcement actions, including potential fines and sanctions. The exact penalties are not detailed within the provided text but generally, non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to significant civil and criminal penalties, reflecting the high importance placed on aviation safety.