COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 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 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.
Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PC-12/36 Passenger Seat Identification and Pedestal Leg
Installation
2/2003
DM
Applicability: All PC-12 and PC-12/45 aircraft, manufacturing serial numbers 101 through 436, with passenger seat vendor part numbers listed in Effectivity Part 1.A. of Pilatus Aircraft Service Bulletin 25-025, dated 27 September 2002.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Pilatus Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 25-025.
Note: Switzerland FOCA AD HB 2002-658 refers.
Compliance: Before 31 December 2002, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 11 December 2002.
Background: The forward and aft facing seats identification tags incorrectly identify the Pilatus part number although the ERDA Vendor Part Number is correct. Additionally, the forward pedestal legs have not been assembled correctly, and legs installed in reverse order do not meet conformity requirements and may not perform as intended under emergency landing conditions.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 6 December 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 December 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, contain provisions within Part 39 addressing airworthiness directives, which are regulations issued to correct unsafe conditions in civil aviation. One such directive is AD/PC-12/36, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address specific safety concerns in Pilatus PC-12 series aeroplanes. Enacted in 2002, this Airworthiness Directive was introduced to rectify issues with passenger seat identification and pedestal leg installation that could potentially compromise the safety of the aircraft. The directive applies to all PC-12 and PC-12/45 aircraft within a specified serial number range, requiring corrective action as outlined in Pilatus Aircraft Service Bulletin 25-025. The objective of the AD is to ensure that the identified issues are addressed to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and protect passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the scope of Part 39 - 105, mandates specific actions through Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operating within Australia. One such directive, AD/PC-12/36, specifically applies to Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes, which includes all PC-12 and PC-12/45 aircraft with manufacturing serial numbers ranging from 101 through 436, and certain passenger seat vendor parts as identified in Pilatus Aircraft Service Bulletin 25-025. The directive necessitates compliance with the action outlined in the aforementioned service bulletin to address the identified unsafe conditions related to passenger seat identification tags and pedestal leg assembly. This directive, issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, is effective from 11 December 2002, and requires compliance before 31 December 2002, unless the actions have already been completed. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this directive is confined to the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all affected aircraft within Australian airspace adhere to the specified safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically AD/PC-12/36, applies to all Pilatus PC-12 and PC-12/45 series aeroplanes with manufacturing serial numbers ranging from 101 to 436. This directive is focused on ensuring the safety of the aircraft by correcting specific issues with passenger seat identification tags and the installation of pedestal legs. The directive mandates that the actions detailed in Pilatus Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 25-025 must be carried out. This includes correctly identifying the seat tags and ensuring that the pedestal legs are assembled and installed according to the specified instructions. The directive was issued due to concerns that the seat tags were incorrectly identifying the Pilatus part number, despite the ERDA Vendor Part Number being correct, and that the forward pedestal legs had not been assembled correctly, potentially impacting performance during emergency landings.
The AD imposes several obligations on the parties involved, including aircraft operators and maintenance providers. They are required to ensure that the specified actions are carried out before 31 December 2002, or as soon as possible if not already completed. This involves carefully reviewing and correcting the passenger seat identification tags and ensuring the pedestal legs are installed correctly as per the service bulletin. Compliance with these directives is essential to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure safety standards are met.
Failure to comply with the AD could result in serious safety implications and potential legal consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory penalties. The seriousness of these consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the directives to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.