COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
PZL M18 Dromader Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.
AD/PZL/5 Centre Wing to Outboard Wing Attach Joints 12/2000 DM
Applicability: All Models PZL M18, M18A, and M18B aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Inspect, using magnetic particle methods, the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints for cracks in the lugs, corrosion in the main holes, and ovalisation of the main holes in accordance with PZL Service Bulletin No. E/02.170/2000, dated 3 August 2000.
2. Accomplish the following after each inspection:
- Repair corrosion damage found to the extent allowed in the Requirement document and apply anti-corrosion protection.
b. Replace the wing attach joints if found cracked or if the corrosion damage is more than is specified in the Requirement document.
c. Eliminate any ovalisation of the wing main joint holes
Note: FAA AD 2000-18-12 Amdt 39-11897 refers.
Compliance: 1. Initial Inspection: Unless accomplished since 27 December 1999, accomplish upon accumulating 2,500 hours total time in service or before 19 November 2000, whichever occurs later.
Repetitive Inspections:
- For existing attach joints: Within 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first, after the initial inspection, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first. The first repetitive inspection starts at 12 calendar months after the last inspection for those aircraft that have already had the initial inspection accomplished since 27 December 1999.
b. For new attach joints: Upon accumulating 2,500 hours total time in service on the joint, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first.
2. Before further flight after the inspection where the discrepancy was found.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 October 2000.
Background: This Directive is the result of local reports of cracking and the issue of an Airworthiness Directive by the FAA following two instances of in-flight wing separations, where severe corrosion and pitting led to high stress concentrations on the wing attachment joints. The FAA AD and PZL Service Bulletin call for the initial inspection at 3000 hours TIS. However cracks have been found in an Australian registered M-18A at only 2,776 hours TIS.
William Ronald Smith
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 October 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 October 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, were enacted to establish a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One such legislative instrument under the Civil Aviation Regulations is Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PZL/5, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2000. This Airworthiness Directive was introduced to address safety concerns related to the PZL M18 Dromader Series Aeroplanes, specifically focusing on the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints. The directive mandates specific inspection and maintenance procedures to prevent structural failures due to cracking, corrosion, and ovalisation of the wing attach joints, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of these aircraft. The policy objective of the directive is to mitigate the risk of in-flight separations by enforcing regular inspections and necessary repairs, thus maintaining the highest safety standards in Australian civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies to all models of the PZL M18, M18A, and M18B aircraft registered in Australia. The directive mandates specific actions to address identified safety concerns related to the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints. These actions include inspecting the joints for cracks, corrosion, and ovalisation using magnetic particle methods, repairing any corrosion damage within the specified limits, replacing cracked joints or those with excessive corrosion damage, and eliminating any ovalisation of the main joint holes. Compliance with these requirements involves conducting an initial inspection either upon accumulating 2,500 hours of total time in service or before a specified date, with subsequent inspections occurring at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service or 12 calendar months. The directive, which became effective on 25 October 2000, is issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is based on findings of cracking and in-flight wing separations due to severe corrosion and pitting in the wing attachment joints.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, sets out the requirements for Airworthiness Directives (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This AD, numbered AD/PZL/5, pertains to the PZL M18 Dromader series aeroplanes, specifically models PZL M18, M18A, and M18B. The AD mandates specific inspections and corrective actions to address identified safety issues with the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints, as outlined in the requirement section (1). The AD became effective on 25 October 2000.
The AD imposes certain obligations on the parties and entities it governs. It requires operators of the specified PZL M18 Dromader series aeroplanes to conduct initial and repetitive inspections of the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints. For the initial inspection, it must be completed within 2,500 hours of total time in service or before 19 November 2000, whichever occurs later. For existing attach joints, repetitive inspections must occur within 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first, after the initial inspection, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first. For new attach joints, inspections must occur upon accumulating 2,500 hours total time in service on the joint, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first. These inspections must be carried out using magnetic particle methods to detect cracks in the lugs, corrosion in the main holes, and ovalisation of the main holes, in accordance with the specified PZL Service Bulletin No. E/02.170/2000, dated 3 August 2000.
In the event of discrepancies found during inspections, corrective actions must be taken before further flight. Corrosion damage must be repaired to the extent allowed in the Requirement document, and anti-corrosion protection must be applied. If cracks or excessive corrosion damage are found, the wing attach joints must be replaced. Additionally, any ovalisation of the wing main joint holes must be eliminated. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant civil and criminal consequences, including potential penalties as prescribed by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The specific maximum penalties for breaches of these regulations can vary but may include substantial fines and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court.