COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes
AD/PL 12/14
Amdt 1
Nose Landing Gear Pivot Pin and Bushes 2/89
Applicability: PL 12 and PL 12U.
Requirement: 1. Replace nose landing gear Pivot Pin P/N 6-24 Issue “C” and Bushes P/N 6-22 Issue “A” with Pin P/N 6-24 Issue “D” and Bushes P/N 6-22 Issue “B” or with Pin P/N 6-33 and Bushes P/N 6-34.
2. Inspect nose landing gear Pivot Pin P/N 6-24 Issue “D” or 6-33 for tooling or machine marks. Reject those pins with tooling or machine marks.
Note: Pin P/N 6-24 Issue “D” is same as Pin P/N 6-33 and Bush P/N 6-22 Issue “B” is same as Pin P/N 6-34.
Compliance: | For Para. 1 - | Unless already accomplished, within 25 hours time in service after 31 October 1973. |
| For Para. 2 - | (i) For Installed Pins: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 October 1973. |
| | (ii) For Spare Pins: Before installation. |
Background: This Amendment deletes “All models” from the “Applicability” and reflects design and manufacturing improvements to later model aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the country. Part 39, specifically addressing airworthiness directives, serves to maintain the safety standards of aircraft through timely and precise regulatory requirements. One such directive, AD/PL 12/14 Amendment 1, pertains to the Transavia PL 12 Series aeroplanes, focusing on the replacement of the nose landing gear pivot pin and bushes. This legislative instrument was introduced to address identified safety concerns related to the structural integrity and performance of the nose landing gear components in certain aircraft models. The primary objective is to ensure that these critical components are replaced or inspected to meet updated safety standards, thereby preventing potential mechanical failures and ensuring the continued safety of flight operations.
The amendment specifies the replacement of certain parts and mandates inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations. It applies to PL 12 and PL 12U models, requiring the replacement of specific pivot pins and bushes within designated time frames. Additionally, it mandates the inspection and rejection of any pins exhibiting tooling or machine marks, reflecting a commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards. The regulation underscores the importance of adhering to precise timelines and thorough inspection protocols to mitigate risks associated with aircraft operations.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes, particularly the PL 12 and PL 12U models. This legislation, issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, mandates the replacement of certain nose landing gear components to ensure airworthiness. The requirement stipulates that the nose landing gear pivot pin P/N 6-24 Issue “C” and bushes P/N 6-22 Issue “A” must be replaced with either pivot pin P/N 6-24 Issue “D” and bushes P/N 6-22 Issue “B” or with pivot pin P/N 6-33 and bushes P/N 6-34. Furthermore, it mandates the inspection of the new pins for any tooling or machine marks, with those marked pins to be rejected. Compliance deadlines are set, with replacements to be made within 25 hours of time in service after 31 October 1973, and inspections to be conducted within 100 hours of time in service for installed pins and before installation for spare pins. This regulation ensures that only aircraft meeting the specified safety standards are permitted to operate.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandate that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issue Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft. Under this framework, AD/PL 12/14 Amendment 1 focuses on the nose landing gear pivot pin and bushes for Transavia PL 12 Series aeroplanes (Section 1). The directive requires that the nose landing gear pivot pin, originally part number 6-24 Issue “C”, and its corresponding bushes, part number 6-22 Issue “A”, be replaced with either pivot pin part number 6-24 Issue “D” and bushes part number 6-22 Issue “B”, or pivot pin part number 6-33 and bushes part number 6-34. Additionally, it mandates an inspection of the installed pivot pins, part numbers 6-24 Issue “D” or 6-33, to ensure they are free from any tooling or machine marks, with any pins exhibiting such marks to be rejected (Section 2).
The AD/PL 12/14 Amendment 1 specifies compliance timelines. For the replacement of the nose landing gear pivot pins and bushes, compliance is required within 25 hours of time in service after 31 October 1973 if not already completed (Section 3(1)). Furthermore, for installed pivot pins, an inspection must be conducted within 100 hours of time in service after the same date, while spare pivot pins must be inspected before installation (Section 3(2)). This ensures that any aircraft utilising these components are operating with the latest, safer versions.
Failure to comply with these Airworthiness Directives can lead to significant consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with ADs, non-compliance can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. This can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including the potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not comply with ADs could result in severe safety risks, potentially leading to civil or criminal liability for the aircraft operator or owner under other aviation and safety laws.
The legislative intent behind AD/PL 12/14 Amendment 1 is to ensure the safety and reliability of the nose landing gear system by upgrading to improved components. By specifying the replacement of older parts with newer, better-designed ones and requiring thorough inspections, CASA aims to prevent potential failures that could compromise aircraft safety. This directive underscores the importance of regular maintenance and adherence to safety regulations to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.