AD/PMC/22 - Counterweight Attachment - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safe operation of civil aircraft in Australia. One component of these regulations is Part 39, which includes the Airworthiness Directives designed to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft and address specific safety concerns. The directive AD/PMC/22, issued under this Part, targets variable pitch propellers manufactured by McCauley, specifically those models 2AF36C39, D2AF36C48, D2AF34C52, 2AF34C55, and 2AF36C89. The directive was introduced to address a safety issue related to the counterweight attachment of these propellers. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that these propellers are modified to comply with specified standards before their next reconditioning after 31 December 1971, thus enhancing the overall safety and reliability of aircraft equipped with these propellers. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, specifically under Part 39 - 107, applies to certain aircraft propellers manufactured by McCauley. This regulation mandates that any aircraft equipped with the specified McCauley propeller models must comply with the airworthiness directive AD/PMC/22, which pertains to counterweight attachment modifications. The regulation applies to the models 2AF36C39, D2AF36C48, D2AF34C52, 2AF34C55, and 2AF36C89. Compliance is required before installation on an aircraft following its next reconditioning, provided the reconditioning is completed after 31 December 1971. The directive references either McCauley SB No. 93 and its revisions 93-1 and 93-2, or FAA AD 71-18-2, to ensure the modifications are in line with the required safety standards. This legislative instrument extends its application across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring uniform safety standards are maintained throughout the national airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) under section 39 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting propellers for variable pitch systems manufactured by McCauley. This AD, identified as AD/PMC/22, mandates a modification to the counterweight attachment for certain models of McCauley propellers. The models specified include 2AF36C39, D2AF36C48, D2AF34C52, 2AF34C55, and 2AF36C89. This directive references McCauley Service Bulletin (SB) No. 93 and its revisions 93-1 and 93-2, as well as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 71-18-2. The compliance requirement necessitates that the modification be completed before the propeller is reinstalled on an aircraft following its next reconditioning after 31 December 1971. Entities governed by this AD, including aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance service providers, must ensure that the specified models of McCauley propellers undergo the required counterweight attachment modification as outlined. This involves adhering to the instructions provided in McCauley SB No. 93 and its revisions, or the FAA AD 71-18-2, ensuring that the modifications are implemented correctly and that the propellers meet the safety standards set forth by CASA. Non-compliance with these directives may result in the propellers being deemed non-airworthy, which can lead to grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary modifications are performed. Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/PMC/22 can result in serious civil and potentially criminal consequences. The maximum penalties for non-compliance may include substantial fines and, in some cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach and are subject to the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations. Civil penalties can be significant, with fines reaching up to $275,000 for corporations and $55,000 for individuals, depending on the nature and circumstances of the breach. In more severe cases, particularly where there is a gross disregard for safety or a significant risk to public safety, criminal charges may be pursued, resulting in imprisonment for up to five years for individuals and higher fines for corporations. These measures underscore the importance of adhering to CASA’s ADs to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.