Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, provide a comprehensive framework to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in the country. One of the measures within this framework is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These directives aim to address specific safety concerns that may arise with certain aircraft models. For instance, AD/PC-6/45 was introduced to address an issue with the fuel return line check valve in Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers between 001 and 932. This AD was necessitated by the potential for the check valve to be incorrectly located, which could compromise the aircraft's safety. The directive mandates a one-time inspection to verify the valve's correct placement and requires its relocation if found to be out of position, as per specified service bulletins. The objective of this directive is to ensure the aircraft's continued airworthiness by adhering to the type design specifications and rectifying any deviations that could pose a safety risk.

Scope and Application

This Civil Aviation Regulation, specifically Part 39 - 105, is concerned with issuing Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of civil aviation. The scope of this particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/PC-6/45) applies to Pilatus PC-6 Porter aircraft, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 001 to 932 inclusive. The regulation aims to address an unsafe condition identified in the fuel return line check valve of these aircraft. The directive applies to any person or entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of these aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction, as overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive mandates a once-off inspection to verify the correct placement of the fuel return line check valve and requires its relocation if found to be incorrectly positioned, in accordance with Pilatus Service Bulletins PC-6 No. 179 and PC-6 No. 135. The compliance deadline for this directive is set for 15 January 2001, with the directive becoming effective from 5 October 2000. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 September 2000, and no exclusions or exemptions are specified within the text.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in PART 39 - 105, include Airworthiness Directives that are crucial for ensuring the safety and compliance of aircraft operations. The referenced AD/PC-6/45 pertains to the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes and mandates specific actions concerning the fuel return line check valve. The directive applies to all Pilatus PC-6 Porter aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 001 to 932 inclusive (AD/PC-6/45). The requirement of this directive is to perform a one-time inspection of the fuel return line check valve to ensure it is correctly located on the left-hand side of the aircraft behind Frame 1, as specified in Pilatus Service Bulletin PC-6 No. 179 (AD/PC-6/45). If the check valve is found to be incorrectly located, it must be relocated according to Pilatus Service Bulletin PC-6 No. 135 before any further flight is undertaken (AD/PC-6/45). Entities governed by this directive, particularly those operating Pilatus PC-6 Porter aircraft within the specified serial number range, must adhere to the outlined inspection and corrective measures. This involves conducting a thorough inspection of the fuel return line check valve to verify its correct positioning. If the valve is not correctly located, operators must follow the instructions provided in Pilatus Service Bulletin PC-6 No. 135 to ensure it is relocated appropriately. This obligation extends to all relevant aircraft before any subsequent flight operations can proceed, ensuring the aircraft remains airworthy and compliant with safety regulations. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive may result in serious safety implications. The directive explicitly states that the compliance deadline for the inspection and necessary corrective actions is no later than 15 January 2001 (AD/PC-6/45). The directive became effective on 5 October 2000, meaning that any non-compliance after this date could lead to potential enforcement actions. Although the specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed within the directive itself, general provisions within the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may apply, including potential fines, legal action, and grounding of non-compliant aircraft. Ensuring adherence to this directive is paramount for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.