COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Propellers - Variable Pitch - McCauley
AD/PMC/34 Blade Actuating Pin Screws - Replacement 5/78
Applicability: C200, C300, C400 and C500 series “threadless” models as listed in the requirement.
Requirement: 1. For propeller models 3FF32C501 fitted to Cessna 421C or 404 aircraft, and listed by S/No. in McCauley SB No. 131, modify in accordance with that SB.
2. For propeller models D3A34C401 and D3A34C402 fitted to Cessna TU206G, T207A, T210M aircraft, and listed by S/No. in McCauley SB No. 129, modify in accordance with that SB.
3. For all other C200, C300, C400 and C500 series “threadless” hubs, modify in accordance with McCauley SL No. 1978-3.
Compliance: For Para. 1 - Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1978. For Para. 2 - Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1978.
For Para. 3 - Before installation on an aircraft following the next recondition conducted after 31 May 1978.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the overarching framework for aviation safety in Australia, introduced specific airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft components. Among these, Part 39 - 107 addresses the specific issue of propeller blade actuating pin screws, particularly those of variable pitch in McCauley propellers. The regulations aim to rectify identified safety concerns through mandatory modifications to ensure that the aircraft meet the required safety standards. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enacting body, with a clear policy objective of maintaining the highest safety standards in the operation of civil aviation within Australia.
The specific airworthiness directive AD/PMC/34 pertains to the replacement of blade actuating pin screws in McCauley propellers, focusing on various Cessna aircraft models. The directive was introduced to address potential safety issues related to the failure of blade actuating pin screws, which could lead to catastrophic consequences during flight. The requirements outlined in the directive mandate modifications for specific propeller models, ensuring that these components are either replaced or modified according to specified service bulletins and service letters, thereby mitigating the risk of in-service failures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107, specifically addresses the requirements for airworthiness directives related to propellers, focusing on variable pitch models from McCauley. This legislative instrument applies to the C200, C300, C400, and C500 series "threadless" models of propellers, which must comply with specific modifications to ensure airworthiness. For instance, propeller models 3FF32C501 fitted to Cessna 421C or 404 aircraft and listed by serial number in McCauley Service Bulletin No. 131 must be modified accordingly. Similarly, models D3A34C401 and D3A34C402 fitted to Cessna TU206G, T207A, and T210M aircraft, listed by serial number in McCauley Service Bulletin No. 129, must also be modified. All other C200, C300, C400, and C500 series "threadless" hubs need to be modified in line with McCauley Service Letter No. 1978-3. Compliance timelines are set, with modifications for specific models needing to be completed within 100 hours of time in service following 31 May 1978, while other modifications must occur before installation on an aircraft following the next recondition after the same date.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, deals with the safety directives concerning the airworthiness of propellers in certain aircraft models. The legislation mandates specific modifications to the blade actuating pin screws of variable pitch propellers manufactured by McCauley (sections (1) and (2)). Section (1) addresses propeller models 3FF32C501 fitted to Cessna 421C or 404 aircraft, requiring these to be modified according to McCauley Service Bulletin No. 131. Section (2) pertains to propeller models D3A34C401 and D3A34C402 fitted to Cessna TU206G, T207A, and T210M aircraft, necessitating modifications as outlined in McCauley Service Bulletin No. 129. Section (3) covers all other C200, C300, C400, and C500 series "threadless" hubs, requiring modification in accordance with McCauley Service Letter No. 1978-3. These modifications must be carried out within specific timeframes, either within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1978 or before installation on an aircraft following the next recondition after the same date.
The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 on the entities governed by these provisions include ensuring that the modifications specified in the relevant service bulletins or service letters are carried out. For the propeller models 3FF32C501 and D3A34C401/D3A34C402, the modifications must be completed within 100 hours of time in service following 31 May 1978. For all other C200, C300, C400, and C500 series “threadless” hubs, the changes must occur before installation on an aircraft following the next recondition after 31 May 1978. This requirement underscores the importance of timely and precise execution of these modifications to maintain airworthiness standards.
Breaches of these safety directives can have significant legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide that failure to comply with the specified modifications can result in penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is generally understood that non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil or criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, as well as potential grounding of the aircraft. The exact penalties would depend on the severity and impact of the non-compliance, but the overarching intent is to ensure strict adherence to safety standards to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of civil aviation.