COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PC-12/3
Amdt 1
Electrical Wiring 3/97
Applicability: All PC-12 aeroplanes up to and including serial number 140.
Requirement: Unless previously accomplished, modify in accordance with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC- 12 Service Bulletin 24-003 Revision 1 dated 18 September 1996.
Note: FOCA Switzerland AD HB 97-002 refers.
Compliance: Prior to 31 March 1997.
This Amendment takes effect on 27 February 1997.
Background: The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) has advised that when the
N ESNTL switch is set to AUTO the NON ESSENTIAL BUS may not automatically disconnect from the power distribution system when the BAT/GEN 1 bus tie circuit breaker (CB210) opens. Additionally FOCA has advised that reports have been received of incorrect wiring of the KN-40 Navigation Converter.
This amendment introduces a revision to the Requirement Document which corrects a wiring error in the original issue of the document.
The original issue of this Directive, mandated a wiring change, which eliminated the condition whereby the NON ESSENTIAL BUS remained connected, and an inspection of the KN-40 wiring.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 November 1996.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve as the primary regulatory framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. This legislative instrument addresses various aspects of civil aviation, including airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft. One such amendment is found in PART 39 - 105, specifically concerning the Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes. The policy objective of these regulations is to mandate specific modifications to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft, thereby preventing potential safety hazards. The AD/PC-12/3 Amendment 1, effective from 27 February 1997, was introduced in response to a safety concern identified by the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), regarding the electrical wiring of the Pilatus PC-12 aeroplanes. This amendment requires modifications to the electrical wiring system to prevent the non-essential bus from remaining connected when it should disconnect, as well as an inspection of the KN-40 Navigation Converter wiring to correct any previous errors. Compliance with this directive was mandated before 31 March 1997 to ensure the safety of all PC-12 aeroplanes up to and including serial number 140.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, focusing on the Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes. This particular amendment, AD/PC-12/3 Amendment 1, applies to all Pilatus PC-12 aeroplanes up to and including serial number 140. The directive mandates modifications to the electrical wiring of these aircraft to address safety concerns identified by the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA). The requirement is to modify the aircraft in accordance with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12 Service Bulletin 24-003 Revision 1 dated 18 September 1996. This directive references FOCA Switzerland AD HB 97-002 and necessitates compliance prior to 31 March 1997. The amendment took effect on 27 February 1997 and corrects an error in the original wiring documentation, ensuring that the NON ESSENTIAL BUS disconnects properly when the BAT/GEN 1 bus tie circuit breaker opens, and addresses issues with the incorrect wiring of the KN-40 Navigation Converter.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, addresses the requirements and obligations for the airworthiness of Pilatus PC-12 Series aeroplanes, specifically through AD/PC-12/3 Amendment 1 (sections 3/97). This amendment mandates modifications to the electrical wiring of all PC-12 aeroplanes up to and including serial number 140, unless these modifications have already been completed (section 3/97). The requirement is to follow the specifications outlined in Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12 Service Bulletin 24-003 Revision 1 dated 18 September 1996. This directive also references FOCA Switzerland AD HB 97-002, which pertains to potential issues with the non-essential bus remaining connected and incorrect wiring of the KN-40 Navigation Converter.
Compliance with these regulations is critical and must be achieved by 31 March 1997, as specified in section 3/97. The amendment itself took effect on 27 February 1997, indicating the urgency and importance of adhering to these airworthiness directives. Operators and owners of PC-12 aeroplanes must ensure that their aircraft meet these standards to maintain their airworthiness certification. This involves conducting the required modifications and inspections as per the Service Bulletin and ensuring all wiring is correctly implemented to avoid the identified issues.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can have serious implications. Non-compliance may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could lead to grounding and potential legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations and can impose penalties for non-compliance. The potential penalties for failing to adhere to these airworthiness directives can include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges against responsible individuals or entities. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the severity of the non-compliance, but they underscore the importance of timely and accurate adherence to the regulations.