AD/PC-6/25 Amdt 1 - Aileron Balance Weight Arms - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve as a comprehensive framework to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Among the various provisions, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, specifically addressing the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, F2006B06128, was introduced to address issues related to the airworthiness of certain aircraft models, ensuring compliance with safety standards. The policy objective is to mandate regular inspections and maintenance of specific components, such as the aileron balance weight arms, to prevent potential safety hazards. This directive ensures that all models fitted with the specified aileron mass balance weight assembly undergo regular inspections within 100 hours of time in service after a certain date, and at intervals not exceeding 100 hours thereafter until the component is replaced.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes AD/PC-6/25 Amendment 1, pertain specifically to aircraft of the Pilatus Porter PC-6 series that are equipped with aileron mass balance weight assembly P/No. 6106.11. This regulation applies to all operators and owners of these specific aircraft models and mandates that inspections of the aileron balance weight arms be carried out within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service following 30 November 1972. These inspections must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service until the aileron balance weight assembly is replaced by the newer model P/No. 111.45.08.001. The geographic reach of these regulations extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying to all aircraft registered under Australian jurisdiction. This legislative instrument ensures that the specified maintenance actions are adhered to, thereby maintaining the airworthiness and safety standards of the aircraft within Australia's airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes, includes the directive AD/PC-6/25 Amendment 1. This directive mandates inspections of the aileron balance weight arms on all models equipped with the aileron mass balance weight assembly P/No. 6106.11 (Section 11/72). The directive stipulates that these inspections must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service following 30 November 1972 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service until the aileron balance weight assembly is replaced with P/No. 111.45.08.001 (Section 11/72). Operators and owners of Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series aeroplanes are required to ensure that the aileron balance weight arms are inspected according to the schedule outlined in the directive. Compliance with these inspection intervals is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft. The directive references Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 89A, which provides detailed guidance on the inspection procedures and criteria that must be met to ensure the aileron balance weight arms are in proper working condition (Section 11/72). Failure to comply with the inspection requirements outlined in AD/PC-6/25 Amendment 1 can result in significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially resulting in grounding of the aircraft. Furthermore, operators and owners who fail to adhere to the prescribed inspection intervals may face enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including fines and other penalties. The specific penalties are not detailed within the directive itself but are governed by the broader provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which could include substantial fines and possible criminal charges for serious breaches. In summary, AD/PC-6/25 Amendment 1 is a crucial directive aimed at ensuring the safety and airworthiness of Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series aeroplanes by mandating regular inspections of the aileron balance weight arms. Operators and owners must strictly adhere to the specified inspection intervals to avoid potential enforcement actions and ensure continued compliance with aviation safety standards.