COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pitts S-1 and S-2 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PITTS S-2/15
Amdt 1
Control Stick 12/96
Applicability: All Pitts aircraft models equipped with a control stick manufactured from a tube with a nominal wall thickness of 0.89 mm (0.035 inch).
Requirement: Inspect the control stick in accordance with paragraph 5.A.(1) to 5.A.(6) of Aviat Service Bulletin (SB) No. 23, dated 29 March 1996. Where two control sticks are installed, both control sticks must be inspected.
Note 1: FAA AD 96-10-12 refers.
Note 2: Aviat SB No. 23 only refers to the model S-2A aeroplane. The inspection procedure of Aviat SB No. 23 is applicable to all models affected by this directive.
Compliance: For aircraft that have not been inspected in accordance with the initial issue of this directive within 50 hours time in service before 7 November 1996, inspect before 10 hours time in service after 7 November 1996.
For aircraft that have been inspected in accordance with the initial issue of this directive within 50 hours time in service before 7 November 1996, inspect within 50 hours time in service since last inspected.
Re-inspect at intervals not to exceed 50 hours time in service. This amendment to the directive takes effect 7 November 1996.
Background: The Authority received a report of the rear control stick failing in a Pitts S-2A. The failure occurred due to fatigue. Cracks had originated at the welds above the pitch pivot. The initial issue of this directive required inspection of all models and re- inspection for models S-2A and S-2S.
This amendment modifies the applicability to require re-inspection of control sticks made from tube with a wall thickness of 0.89 mm (0.035 inch) only. Replacement of the control stick with one made from tube with increased wall thickness, available from the manufacturer, will relieve the inspection requirement.
The initial issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 31 January 1996.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include specific directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operations within Australia. One such amendment is AD/PITTS S-2/15 Amdt 1, which addresses the issue of control stick fatigue in Pitts S-1 and S-2 series aeroplanes. Enacted to mitigate risks identified with the control stick construction in certain models, this directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) following reports of control stick failures due to fatigue cracks originating at the welds. The primary policy objective of this legislation is to enhance aviation safety by requiring regular inspections and, where necessary, the replacement of control sticks to prevent potential in-flight failures. This directive became effective on 7 November 1996, mandating inspections and re-inspections at specified intervals to ensure ongoing airworthiness and safety compliance.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, specifically address airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models, including the Pitts S-1 and S-2 series aeroplanes. AD/PITTS S-2/15 Amendment 1 pertains to the control stick of these aircraft models, specifically those manufactured from a tube with a nominal wall thickness of 0.89 mm (0.035 inch). This directive applies to all Pitts aircraft models that are equipped with such control sticks. It mandates that inspections of these control sticks must be carried out in accordance with the detailed procedures outlined in paragraph 5.A.(1) to 5.A.(6) of Aviat Service Bulletin No. 23, dated 29 March 1996. The requirement extends to both control sticks if two are installed. The directive became effective on 7 November 1996 and stipulates that aircraft not previously inspected within the specified timeframe must be inspected before 10 hours of time in service post this date. For aircraft previously inspected within 50 hours of time in service before 7 November 1996, inspections must be carried out within 50 hours since the last inspection. Re-inspections must then occur at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service. This directive underscores the importance of ensuring the structural integrity of the control sticks to maintain airworthiness standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, establish the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/PITTS S-2/15 Amendment 1. This Airworthiness Directive pertains to the control stick of Pitts S-1 and S-2 series aeroplanes (Section 1). The directive applies to all Pitts aircraft models equipped with a control stick manufactured from a tube with a nominal wall thickness of 0.89 mm (0.035 inch) (Section 1). The primary requirement is that the control stick must be inspected in accordance with paragraphs 5.A.(1) to 5.A.(6) of Aviat Service Bulletin (SB) No. 23, dated 29 March 1996. This inspection must be carried out on both control sticks if two are installed (Section 1).
Compliance with the directive involves inspecting the control stick within specific timeframes. For aircraft that have not been inspected in accordance with the initial issue of this directive within 50 hours of time in service before 7 November 1996, the inspection must occur within 10 hours of time in service after 7 November 1996 (Section 3). For aircraft that have already been inspected within the stipulated 50 hours before 7 November 1996, the inspection must be conducted within 50 hours of time in service since the last inspection (Section 3). The directive also mandates re-inspection at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service (Section 3). This amendment to the directive took effect on 7 November 1996 (Section 3).
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. The directive was issued following a report of the rear control stick failing in a Pitts S-2A due to fatigue, which originated from cracks at the welds above the pitch pivot (Section 4). The regulations impose strict obligations on the parties governed by it to ensure that the control stick inspections are conducted as required. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to safety hazards, potentially resulting in civil or criminal penalties. The exact nature and extent of the penalties are governed by the broader civil aviation laws and regulations, which may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory actions (Section 5).