AD/PC-6/19 - Sliding Door - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through F2006B06121, aim to address safety concerns specific to the Pilatus Porter PC-6 series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and focus on ensuring the airworthiness of these aircraft models. The particular legislative instrument, F2006B06121, targets the modification of sliding doors on certain Pilatus Porter PC-6 series aeroplanes to enhance safety and compliance with regulatory standards. This directive applies to aeroplanes with specific serial numbers and mandates compliance before a specified date, reflecting the policy objective of maintaining high safety standards within the aviation industry.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/PC-6/19 concerning the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes, applies to all models within this series with specific serial numbers: 519, 596, 597, 600, 601, 617, 620, 621, 622, 623, 626, and 628. This regulation mandates modifications to the sliding door of the aircraft as outlined in Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 73. The directive is applicable to any person or entity operating these aircraft, including commercial operators, private owners, and maintenance providers. The jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, as CASA is the regulatory body under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, and its directives are binding across Australia. The directive does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and compliance must be achieved before 2 November 1967. Subordinate instruments may extend or restrict the application of this directive, providing further detail or specific circumstances under which the directive applies.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, section 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives for aircraft. One such directive, AD/PC-6/19, pertains to the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes and requires modifications to the sliding door (1). This directive applies to all models with specific serial numbers, including 519, 596, 597, 600, 601, 617, 620, 621, 622, 623, 626, and 628 (1). Compliance with this directive must be achieved before 2 November 1967 (1), and the required modifications are detailed in Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 73 (1). Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, compliance with airworthiness directives is mandatory for the specified aircraft models (2). Operators and owners of these aircraft are required to ensure that the sliding door modifications outlined in AD/PC-6/19 are completed within the stipulated timeframe (2). This includes performing the necessary work or arranging for it to be done by a qualified person or entity, in accordance with the instructions provided in Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 73 (2). Failure to comply with these directives can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which would prevent it from being operated legally (2). Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/PC-6/19 may result in civil and criminal penalties (3). Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, an operator or owner who fails to comply with an airworthiness directive may be subject to fines and other civil penalties (3). In more serious cases, criminal charges may be brought against individuals responsible for the non-compliance, which could result in imprisonment (3). The specific penalties for non-compliance with AD/PC-6/19 are not detailed in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, but they may be found in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 or other relevant legislation (3).