COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pilatus PC-12 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/PC-12/26 Passenger Oxygen System 3/2001 DM
Applicability: All PC-12 and PC-12/45 aeroplanes, Manufacturer Serial Number MSN 101 up to and including MSN 365 with rear bench seats Pilatus Part Number (P/N) 525.22.12.016 installed.
Requirement: 1. Replace the metered connector and oxygen tubing (together with the related components) in the rear bench in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin (SB) No 35-002 dated 19 December 2000.
2. Bench seats P/N 525.22.12.016 may not be installed on any aeroplane unless the metered connector and oxygen tubing have been replaced in accordance with Pilatus PC-12 SB 35-002.
Note: FOCA Switzerland AD HB 2001-001 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1 - Before 24 February 2001.
For Requirement 2 - As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 January 2001.
Background: A design review found that the flow of oxygen to each occupant of the rear bench seat was reduced through two metered connections when only one reduction of flow was necessary. This could result in insufficient oxygen flow to the seat occupants during an in-flight emergency requiring oxygen.
This Directive requires replacement of the metered connector and oxygen tubing to allow an unrestricted flow of oxygen to the outlet manifold.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 January 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 January 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, were established to regulate civil aviation activities within the country, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. Part 39, specifically addressing airworthiness directives, aims to correct unsafe conditions through regulatory mandates. This legislative instrument is a response to identified safety issues, such as the one addressed by AD/PC-12/26 concerning the Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address a specific problem identified in the oxygen system of certain Pilatus PC-12 aeroplanes, ensuring that the flow of oxygen to rear bench seat occupants is not compromised during an in-flight emergency. The directive mandates the replacement of specific components to maintain airworthiness and passenger safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes is applicable to all PC-12 and PC-12/45 aeroplanes with Manufacturer Serial Numbers (MSN) ranging from 101 to 365, which are equipped with rear bench seats identified by Pilatus Part Number (P/N) 525.22.12.016. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure compliance with safety standards. The requirement set forth in the AD mandates the replacement of the metered connector and oxygen tubing in the rear bench seats in accordance with the instructions provided in Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No 35-002 dated 19 December 2000, and it prohibits the installation of bench seats P/N 525.22.12.016 unless the specified oxygen system components are replaced. Compliance with these directives must be achieved before 24 February 2001 for the replacement of the metered connector and oxygen tubing, and as of the effective date of this directive, which is 24 January 2001. This directive is applicable nationwide and aims to rectify an issue where the design of the oxygen system could result in insufficient oxygen flow to rear seat occupants during an in-flight emergency, thereby enhancing the safety of air travel.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Pilatus PC-12 series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/PC-12/26 focuses on the passenger oxygen system, issued on 18 January 2001 and effective from 24 January 2001. The directive mandates that certain actions be taken to address an identified unsafe condition related to the rear bench seats of these aircraft models. The directive applies to all PC-12 and PC-12/45 aeroplanes with manufacturer serial numbers ranging from MSN 101 to MSN 365 that are equipped with rear bench seats bearing Pilatus Part Number (P/N) 525.22.12.016.
The requirements set out in the directive are quite specific. Firstly, it necessitates the replacement of the metered connector and oxygen tubing in the rear bench area, as detailed in the Accomplishment Instructions of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin (SB) No 35-002 dated 19 December 2000. Secondly, it stipulates that bench seats with P/N 525.22.12.016 cannot be installed on any aeroplane unless the metered connector and oxygen tubing have been replaced according to the same service bulletin. The directive references FOCA Switzerland AD HB 2001-001 for additional context. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved by 24 February 2001 for the replacement of the metered connector and oxygen tubing, and immediately upon the directive's effective date for the prohibition on installing specific bench seats.
The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are clear and must be met by all relevant parties. Aircraft operators and owners are required to ensure that the specified modifications are carried out on their Pilatus PC-12 series aeroplanes to maintain airworthiness and ensure passenger safety. This includes adherence to the instructions provided in the Pilatus PC-12 SB 35-002, which detail the precise steps for replacing the metered connectors and oxygen tubing. Additionally, operators must verify that bench seats with P/N 525.22.12.016 are not installed until the required modifications have been completed. Failure to comply with these obligations could result in non-compliance with aviation safety standards.
Failure to adhere to the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the directive, it is known that breaches of civil aviation regulations can result in substantial fines and potential legal action. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance, and severe breaches may also attract criminal penalties under Australian law. The consequences of not complying with such directives are serious, as they directly impact the safety of passengers and crew on board the affected aircraft.