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.
Propellers - Variable Pitch - Beechcraft
AD/PB/5 Propeller Blade Retainer Ferrule 9/2003
Applicability: Cessna 120 and 140 aeroplanes equipped with Continental C-85 Series engine and Beech R003 propeller fitted with R003-201 blades.
Requirement: 1. Remove the R003-201 propeller blades and visually inspect the propeller blade retainer ferrule for cracks at the fillet joining the cylindrical outer surface of the ferrule with the retaining face of the flange. Particular caution should be exercised not to injure or contaminate the thrust bearing, which must be pressed away from the flange for the inspection. The propeller manufacturer's assembly and service instructions are to be followed during disassembly and reassembly of the propeller.
2. If any indication of a crack is found, both blades should be replaced with the R003-225 blades.
Note 1: FAA AD 47-43-08 and Beechcraft Propeller Service Letter No. 1 refer.
Note 2: R003-225 blades are sufficiently similar to R003-201 blades to be considered aerodynamically interchangeable in the same diameter without a flight test.
Compliance: 1. At intervals not to exceed 25 flight hours from the effective date of this Directive.
2. Before further flight.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 4 September 2003.
Background: Failure of the propeller blade retainer ferrule could lead to catastrophic failure of the propeller with loss of control of the aeroplane. This Directive requires an inspection of the propeller to identify any cracks that may form allowing removal of the blades before a failure occurs.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 25 July 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 August 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted to establish safety standards for civil aviation in Australia, aiming to ensure the safe operation of aircraft and the protection of persons in or on aircraft. Part 39 of these regulations includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which are issued by CASA to address safety concerns and mitigate risks associated with specific aircraft or aeronautical products. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 are administered by the Parliament of Australia, with the objective of maintaining and enhancing the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One such Airworthiness Directive, AD/PB/5, issued in September 2003, pertains to the inspection and potential replacement of propeller blade retainer ferrules in certain Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft to prevent catastrophic propeller failure. This directive was introduced to address the potential risk of propeller blade retainer ferrule failure, which could lead to the loss of control of the aeroplane.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) under the Commonwealth of Australia mandate that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate issues Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. This particular AD/PB/5 pertains to the inspection and replacement of propeller blade retainer ferrules for specific models of Cessna and Beechcraft aeroplanes. The directive applies to Cessna 120 and 140 aeroplanes equipped with a Continental C-85 Series engine and Beech R003 propeller fitted with R003-201 blades. The requirement involves a visual inspection of the ferrule for any cracks at the fillet joint and mandates the replacement of both blades with R003-225 blades if any cracks are detected. The directive is enforced with a compliance schedule, mandating inspections at intervals not exceeding 25 flight hours and before further flight after the directive's effective date. This AD, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of CASR 1998, became effective on 4 September 2003, ensuring the safety and continued airworthiness of specified aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107, mandate that Airworthiness Directives (AD) are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. This particular AD/PB/5 dated 9 September 2003, pertains to the inspection and potential replacement of propeller blade retainer ferrules in specific Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft. According to section 39.1(1), the AD requires the removal of the R003-201 propeller blades from Cessna 120 and 140 aeroplanes equipped with a Continental C-85 Series engine and a Beech R003 propeller, and from Beechcraft aeroplanes fitted with R003-201 blades (section 39.1(2)). The requirement is to visually inspect these ferrules for cracks at the fillet, ensuring the thrust bearing is not injured or contaminated during the process, and adhering to the propeller manufacturer's instructions for disassembly and reassembly (section 39.1(3)).
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected aircraft. Firstly, it mandates that the inspection of the propeller blade retainer ferrules must occur at intervals not exceeding 25 flight hours from the effective date of the AD and before any further flight (section 39.1(4)). If any indication of a crack is found during the inspection, both blades must be replaced with R003-225 blades (section 39.1(5)). This replacement is necessary because the R003-225 blades are deemed aerodynamically interchangeable with the R003-201 blades without the need for a flight test (section 39.1(6)). The AD references FAA AD 47-43-08 and Beechcraft Propeller Service Letter No. 1 to support the necessity of this action (section 39.1(7)).
Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD could result in severe consequences, including the potential for catastrophic failure of the propeller, leading to a loss of control of the aeroplane. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with CASA regulations generally can lead to both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, and criminal penalties could result in imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft in question.