AD/PL 12/18 Amdt 1 - Landing Gear Oleo Assemblies

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One of the key components of these regulations is the schedule of airworthiness directives, which includes specific instructions for maintaining aircraft safety standards. AD/PL 12/18 Amendment 1, for example, pertains to the Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes and specifically addresses the inspection and replacement of landing gear oleo assemblies. This directive was introduced to address the problem of reported cracking in rod end fittings of certain models, which poses a significant safety risk. The policy objective is to ensure that these critical components are regularly inspected and maintained to prevent potential failures that could compromise the safety of flights. Enacted by the Australian Government, these regulations aim to maintain a high standard of airworthiness and safety within the nation’s aviation industry. By providing detailed directives such as AD/PL 12/18 Amendment 1, CASA ensures that all operators are aware of and comply with the necessary maintenance procedures to safeguard against identified risks, thus ensuring the continued safety and reliability of civil aviation in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to all Transavia PL 12 series aeroplanes fitted with oleo type landing gear and those equipped with rod end type oleo landing gear with parts numbers 6-58 for the main landing gear and 6-57 for the nose landing gear. This legislation is of national reach within the Commonwealth of Australia and governs the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft within the country's jurisdiction. The directive mandates specific actions to be taken in accordance with Transavia Service Bulletin No 29 and its addendum dated 17 October 1989. This includes inspecting rod end fittings, particularly part number 6-78, for any signs of cracking, with a particular focus on the grease nipple area. Any cracked fittings must be replaced before further flight. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory unless the specified actions have already been carried out; they must be completed prior to further flight after 31 December 1989 and at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service thereafter. The application of this directive extends to any Transavia PL 12 series aeroplane present within Australia, as evidenced by the reported instances of cracking in the rod ends of such aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, specifically within the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates actions concerning the Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the landing gear oleo assemblies. According to AD/PL 12/18 Amendment 1, all models fitted with oleo type landing gear and those fitted with rod end type oleo landing gear main P/N 6-58, nose P/N 6-57, are subject to specific requirements (Section 13/89). The primary requirement is that action must be taken in accordance with Transavia Service Bulletin No 29 for oleo type landing gear, and additionally, for rod end type oleo landing gear, action must be taken as per Transavia Service Bulletin No 29 Addendum dated 17 October 1989. This addendum necessitates inspecting the rod end fittings P/N 6-78 for any evidence of cracking, particularly around the grease nipple area. Any cracked fittings must be replaced before further flight to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties governed by these regulations. Firstly, operators of Transavia PL 12 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that all required inspections and actions are performed in accordance with the specified service bulletins and their amendments. Specifically, this includes conducting thorough inspections of the oleo assemblies and rod end fittings as outlined. Compliance must be achieved unless such actions have already been completed. Moreover, these actions must be undertaken prior to any further flight after 31 December 1989, and subsequently, the inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 100 hours of time in service. The overarching aim is to maintain the integrity and safety of the landing gear system, preventing any potential in-flight failures. Failure to comply with these provisions can result in significant consequences. The Act does not explicitly state penalties, but non-compliance with CASA airworthiness directives generally can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory sanctions. In severe cases, where non-compliance is found to have contributed to an accident or serious incident, criminal charges could be brought against the responsible individuals or entities. The potential penalties for such offences can include substantial fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and impact of the breach. Therefore, adherence to these regulations is not only a legal obligation but also a critical safety measure to protect the aviation community.