Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to establish regulations governing civil aviation in Australia, ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel within the country. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of these regulations. The authority derives from subregulation 39.1(1) of CAR 1998, which empowers CASA to issue airworthiness directives to address unsafe conditions that could affect the airworthiness of aircraft. The policy objective underpinning this legislation is to enhance aviation safety by mandating specific corrective actions in response to identified risks. This particular airworthiness directive (AD) pertains to the Pilatus Porter PC-6 Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing a safety concern involving the horizontal stabiliser trim warning system. The AD was issued to mandate the installation of a trim warning system to prevent incidents where the aircraft takes off with the horizontal stabiliser incorrectly trimmed. This could lead to increased stick forces and potential loss of control. The directive requires compliance within 200 hours of service after its effective date or by 31 December 2002, whichever comes first, and is informed by incidents reported by the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation. The directive was issued by Eugene Paul Holzapfel, a delegate of CASA, on 3 April 2002, and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 April 2002.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under subregulation 39.1 (1), applies to Pilatus PC-6 Porter aeroplanes with manufacturers serial numbers up to and including MSN 939. This legislation, through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (AD) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), mandates specific actions to correct unsafe conditions identified in certain aircraft. The scope of this particular directive mandates the installation of a horizontal stabiliser trim warning system and an amendment to the Aircraft Flight Manual to ensure that the aircraft's trim is safely set for takeoff, thus mitigating the risk of in-flight loss of control. Compliance with these directives is required within 200 hours of time in service after the effective date of the directive, or by 31 December 2002, whichever comes first. This directive is effective from 16 May 2002 and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 April 2002. The directive aims to address incidents where aeroplanes took off with the horizontal stabiliser incorrectly trimmed, leading to potentially hazardous flying conditions.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PC-6/47, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to Pilatus PC-6 Porter aeroplanes with manufacturers serial numbers (MSN) up to and including MSN 939 (section 1). The directive mandates the installation of a horizontal stabiliser trim, visual and audio warning system, as specified in Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin 180 Revision 1 dated 27 September 2001 (section 2). Additionally, the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) must be amended by inserting AFM Supplement Report No. 02207 Rev 1 dated 25 March 2002 (section 2). The directive requires these actions to be completed within 200 hours time in service after the effective date of the directive, but no later than 31 December 2002, whichever occurs first (section 3). The directive became effective on 16 May 2002. The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of Pilatus PC-6 Porter aeroplanes affected by this directive. They must ensure the installation of the specified trim warning system and update the AFM as per the directive's requirements (section 2). Compliance with the directive must be achieved within the specified timeframe, with strict adherence to the instructions provided in the service bulletin and supplement report (section 3). Failure to comply with these obligations may result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, potentially leading to operational restrictions or grounding. The AD does not explicitly state any specific offences or penalties for non-compliance within the text provided. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations. These may include enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), such as fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and legal action against individuals or entities found in breach of the regulations. The severity of penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance.