AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 - Centre Wing to Outboard Wing Attachment Joints

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2013L01942 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Explanatory Statement

 

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

 

AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 — Centre Wing to Outboard Wing Attachment Joints

 

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), CASA may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product. Therefore, this AD is a legislative instrument.

 

Under subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

 

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

 

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. When a foreign State of Design issued an AD before 1 October 2009 for a type of aircraft on the Australian Register, CASA, as Australia’s national aviation authority, must assess that information and, if appropriate, issue an Australian AD to mandate the requirements of the foreign State of Design. AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 applies to the PZL-Miele M-18 Dromader Series aircraft.

 

The United States of America Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued AD 2000-18-12 Amdt 39-11897 affecting Polskie Zaklady Lotnickze Co. Ltd (PZL)‑Mielec M-18 Dromader series aeroplanes in 2000. Poland is the State of Design for this aircraft type. CASA subsequently issued AD/PZL/5 to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 2000-18-12. As a result of a recent accident involving a PZL M-18 aircraft and review of AD/PZL/5, CASA has issued AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 to include an additional visual inspection at each 100 hours corrected flight time and removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage every 2500 hours corrected flight time. The manufacturer requires visual inspection every 100 hours corrected flight time and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage after 3000 hours corrected flight time. The previous airworthiness directive specified 2500 hours as a result of a crack being found in the attachment joint and repeat inspections without the wings being removed every 500 flight hours. This AD repeals and replaces the previous AD on this subject.

 

Consultation

This AD is being made as a result of a recent accident involving a PZL-M-18 aircraft. This AD introduces an additional visual inspection at each 100 hours corrected flight time and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage every 2500 hours corrected flight time. The manufacturer requires visual inspection every 100 hours corrected flight time and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage after 3000 hours corrected flight time. The previous airworthiness directive specified 2500 hours as a result of a crack being found in the attachment joint and repeat inspections without the wings being removed every 500 flight hours. CASA considers the difference with the previous AD is minor or machinery in nature and does not substantially alter the previous AD. Accordingly, CASA considers that it was not necessary or appropriate to undertake any further consultation under section 17 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

Regulation Impact Statement

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs.

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

 

Making and commencement

The instrument has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

 

The instrument commences on 15 November 2013.

 

[Instrument number AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1]

Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 — Centre Wing to Outboard Wing Attachment Joints

 

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the legislative instrument

The United States of America Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued AD 2000-18-12 affecting PZL-Miele M-18 series aeroplanes in 2000. Poland is the State of Design for this aircraft type. CASA subsequently issued AD/PZL/5 to mandate the requirements of FAA AD 2000-18-12. As a result of a recent accident involving a PZL M-18 aircraft and review of AD/PZL/5, CASA has issued AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 to include an additional visual inspection at each 100 hours corrected flight time and removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage every 2500 hours corrected flight time. The manufacturer requires visual inspection every 100 hours corrected flight time and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage after 3000 hours corrected flight time. The previous airworthiness directive specified 2500 hours as a result of a crack being found in the attachment joint and repeat inspections without the wings being removed every 500 flight hours. CASA has repealed and replaced AD/PZL/5 to include an additional visual inspection requirement and remove the use of an alternative non-destructive inspection procedure.

 

The primary purpose of this legislative instrument is to prevent the reoccurrence of an unsafe condition that has redeveloped in the PZL M-18 aircraft type.

 

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

 

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1, address a safety issue identified in the PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader series aeroplanes. Enacted in 1988, the Civil Aviation Act establishes the framework for aviation safety in Australia, empowering the Governor-General to make regulations that ensure the safety of air navigation. The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under the authority of this Act, allow the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) that mandate safety requirements for aircraft and aeronautical products. AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1, issued by CASA, responds to a recent accident and the need for enhanced inspection procedures for the attachment joints of the centre wing to the outboard wings on the PZL M-18 aircraft. The policy objective of this amendment is to mitigate the risk of unsafe conditions through more stringent inspection protocols, thus ensuring the continuing airworthiness of these aircraft in accordance with international standards. This legislative instrument was introduced to enhance the safety of PZL M-18 aircraft by implementing more rigorous inspection requirements, following a recent accident and a review of existing safety directives. CASA, acting under the delegation authority granted by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issued AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 to mandate an additional visual inspection every 100 hours of corrected flight time and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings for inspection every 2500 hours of corrected flight time. This amendment aligns with the international requirement for States of Design and States of Registry to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, as outlined in Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The regulatory change was made in response to identified safety concerns and aims to prevent the recurrence of unsafe conditions.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 Amendment Instrument (AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1) applies to the PZL-Miele M-18 Dromader Series aircraft, specifically focusing on the attachment joints from the fuselage to the centre wing and outboard wings. This amendment was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in response to a recent accident involving a PZL M-18 aircraft, which prompted a review of the existing airworthiness directive (AD/PZL/5). The amendment introduces an additional visual inspection requirement at each 100 hours of corrected flight time and mandates the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings for inspection of the attachment joints every 2500 hours of corrected flight time. This amendment is made under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, specifically section 98, which allows for the creation of regulations in the interest of air navigation safety. The AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 is a legislative instrument, and it repeals and replaces the previous AD/PZL/5 to incorporate these new inspection requirements. The amendment is designed to address safety concerns identified in the PZL M-18 aircraft and aims to prevent the reoccurrence of unsafe conditions. CASA, as Australia's national aviation authority, is responsible for assessing and mandating the requirements of foreign State of Design ADs, ensuring compliance with international standards for airworthiness. This amendment is effective from 15 November 2013.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) have been amended by AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1, which pertains specifically to the PZL-Miele M-18 Dromader Series aircraft. This amendment introduces additional inspection requirements for the attachment joints between the centre wing and the outboard wings. Section 39.001 of the CASR 1998 empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (ADs) for aircraft and aeronautical products. AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 mandates an additional visual inspection at each 100 hours of corrected flight time, and the removal of the centre wing and outboard wings to inspect the attachment joints from the fuselage every 2500 hours of corrected flight time. The previous directive specified 2500 hours, but this amendment has reduced that interval due to a recent accident and subsequent review. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Operators of the PZL-Miele M-18 Dromader Series aircraft must adhere to the new inspection requirements outlined in AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1. This includes conducting a visual inspection every 100 hours of corrected flight time and a detailed inspection of the attachment joints every 2500 hours. These inspections must be performed by qualified personnel and the results must be documented in the aircraft's maintenance records. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and other enforcement actions by CASA. Breach of the provisions set out in AD/PZL/5 Amdt 1 may result in both civil and criminal consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, CASA has the authority to take enforcement action against non-compliant operators. This may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and other administrative penalties. In cases where non-compliance is found to have contributed to an accident or incident, individuals and companies may also face criminal charges. The maximum penalties for breaches of civil aviation safety regulations can include fines of up to $222,200 for corporations and $44,440 for individuals, as well as imprisonment for up to five years. These measures are designed to ensure the highest standards of safety in Australian airspace.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Administrative Law
Environmental Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Regulatory Standards
Enforcement Powers

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.