COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PMC/41 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Propellers - Variable Pitch - McCauley
AD/PMC/41
Amdt 1
Propeller Hub Eddy Current Inspection 1/2004
Applicability: All McCauley threaded propeller hubs.
Requirement: Inspect the threaded area of the propeller hub assembly where the blade retention nut screws into the propeller hub using either:
- The eddy current inspection (ECI) procedure detailed in McCauley standard practices manual (SPM) 101; or
b. An approved ECI procedure.
Note 1: NDI/EC/McCauley/41 constitutes one such technique.
Note 2: NDI/EC/McCauley/41 is only approved for the requirement detailed in this Directive. Refer CAR 2A (1988)
Compliance: Whenever the propeller is dissembled to a point that would allow access to the propeller hub threaded area.
This Amendment becomes effective on 22 January 2004.
Background: This amendment includes reference to the manufacturers procedure that is a required task to be carried out each overhaul. NDI/EC/McCauley/41 is approved only for the inspection requirement of this Directive.
A number of threaded hubs have failed during take-off resulting in propeller blade loss.
The original issue of this Directive became effective 21 April 1988.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 4 December 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 December 2003.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) were enacted to provide for the regulation of civil aviation safety in Australia, aiming to ensure that the operation of aircraft and aeronautical products does not endanger persons or property. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Australian Commonwealth Government to address safety concerns related to the operation of civil aircraft and aeronautical products. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance the safety standards in civil aviation through regulatory measures that prevent accidents and incidents. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enacting body, responsible for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that mandate safety actions on specific aircraft or aeronautical products. This particular AD, AD/PMC/41, addresses the safety concern of propeller hub failures during take-off, which has led to propeller blade loss. The AD mandates an inspection of the threaded area of the propeller hub using specified procedures to prevent such failures, ensuring that the safety of aircraft operations is maintained.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, addresses the maintenance and safety standards of aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia. This regulatory framework applies to all aircraft registered in Australia and their associated components, including propellers. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) under discussion, AD/PMC/41 Amendment 1, pertains to the inspection of propeller hubs on McCauley threaded propellers. This directive is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure that the threaded area of the propeller hub assembly, where the blade retention nut screws into the propeller hub, is inspected using an approved eddy current inspection (ECI) procedure. This requirement is mandatory whenever the propeller is disassembled to the point of access to the propeller hub threaded area. The directive aims to mitigate the risk of propeller blade loss during take-off, which has occurred in the past due to failures in the threaded hubs. The AD is effective from 22 January 2004 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 December 2003, thereby imposing binding obligations on aircraft operators and maintenance personnel within the Australian jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, mandate the creation and issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure aircraft and aeronautical products remain safe for operation. In this case, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate has revoked the previous AD/PMC/41 and issued a new directive, AD/PMC/41 Amendment 1, effective from 22 January 2004. This AD applies to all McCauley threaded propeller hubs (AD, Applicability). The directive requires an inspection of the threaded area of the propeller hub assembly where the blade retention nut screws into the hub (AD, Requirement). This inspection must be conducted using either the eddy current inspection (ECI) procedure detailed in the McCauley Standard Practices Manual (SPM) 101 or an approved ECI procedure, with NDI/EC/McCauley/41 being a noted technique (AD, Requirement, Note 1 and Note 2). The inspection should be carried out whenever the propeller is disassembled to allow access to the propeller hub threaded area (AD, Compliance).
The obligations imposed by this AD are specific and require adherence to the outlined inspection procedures. Operators and maintenance personnel must ensure that the inspection is conducted in accordance with the specified ECI method. This means that when disassembling a propeller to the point of accessing the threaded area of the hub, the inspection must be performed using either the McCauley SPM 101 procedure or another approved ECI method. The directive underscores the importance of this inspection by noting that it became necessary due to the failure of several threaded hubs during take-off, leading to propeller blade loss (AD, Background). Failure to comply with these inspection requirements could potentially result in unsafe conditions that compromise the safety of the aircraft.
Violations of the AD's requirements may have significant legal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with an AD can lead to both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, with the exact amount determined by the court but potentially substantial based on the severity and frequency of the violation. Criminal penalties may also apply, particularly if the non-compliance results in an accident or serious incident. The maximum penalties for these offences are detailed in the Civil Aviation Act 1988, with potential fines and imprisonment terms that reflect the seriousness of endangering aviation safety. Ensuring adherence to this AD is thus not only a regulatory requirement but also a critical safety measure to prevent accidents.