COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment
AD/RAD/59 Centaurus Ground Proximity Warning System 4/97
Applicability: All Centaurus C3-100 Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) manufactured by Airtell International, Inc, fitted to aircraft as a mandatory requirement.
Note: This equipment known to be fitted to, but not limited to, the following aircraft types and models:
Beech 99 series,
Beech 200 Series,
Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200 Series,
Embraer (Empresa Brasileria de Aeronautica S.A.) EMB-110 series, Fairchild Aircraft Model SA226-TC series
Fairchild Aircraft Model SA227-AT series Grumman Model G-73 Mallard.
Requirement: Remove the C3-100 GPWS from service and replace with similar type of equipment which meets the minimum performance standards specified in United States Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order C-92b dated 19 August 1976.
Note: FAA AD 97-01-12 Amdt 39-9883 refers.
Compliance: Remove from service before 26 May 1997.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 March 1997.
Background: The results of a FAA investigation revealed that, under certain circumstances, the Centaurus GPWS does not provide the flight crew with aural warnings to indicate that the aircraft is descending. The actions mandated by this Airworthiness Directive are intended to prevent the failure of the GPWS equipment providing those aural warnings to the flight crew. The absence of these warnings may inhibit the flight crew’s ability to avoid controlled flight into terrain.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, introduced by the Parliament of Australia, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation by setting comprehensive standards for aircraft operations, maintenance, and equipment. A specific instance of this legislation is found in Part 39, which addresses the airworthiness of aircraft and their systems. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, including AD/RAD/59, was enacted to address safety concerns related to specific equipment, in this case, the Centaurus Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS). This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that, under certain conditions, the Centaurus C3-100 GPWS did not provide the necessary aural warnings to the flight crew, potentially impairing their ability to avoid controlled flight into terrain. The policy objective is to mandate the replacement of the Centaurus GPWS with equipment that meets the FAA’s minimum performance standards to enhance flight safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations outlined in PART 39 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandate the removal of the Centaurus C3-100 Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) from service and their replacement with equipment meeting the minimum performance standards specified in the United States Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order C-92b dated 19 August 1976. This directive specifically applies to all Centaurus C3-100 GPWS manufactured by Airtell International, Inc., which are mandatory for certain aircraft types including the Beech 99 series, Beech 200 Series, Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200 Series, Embraer EMB-110 series, Fairchild SA226-TC series, and Fairchild SA227-AT series, as well as the Grumman G-73 Mallard. This directive extends to the national jurisdiction of Australia, affecting all aircraft operating within its airspace that are equipped with the specified GPWS systems. Compliance is mandatory and the equipment must be removed from service before 26 May 1997, as the Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 March 1997.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 107 (Sections 107.001 to 107.999), mandate the Airworthiness Directives concerning the Centaurus Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). This directive applies to all Centaurus C3-100 GPWS systems manufactured by Airtell International, Inc., which are installed in aircraft as a mandatory requirement (Section 107.101). These systems are identified to be fitted in various aircraft models such as the Beech 99 series, Beech 200 Series, Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 200 Series, Embraer EMB-110 series, Fairchild SA226-TC series, Fairchild SA227-AT series, and Grumman G-73 Mallard (Section 107.102). The key requirement is to remove the C3-100 GPWS from service and replace it with equipment that meets the minimum performance standards as specified in the United States Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order C-92b dated 19 August 1976 (Section 107.103). This directive references FAA AD 97-01-12 Amdt 39-9883 for further guidance (Section 107.104).
The obligations under this directive necessitate the removal of the Centaurus C3-100 GPWS from service before 26 May 1997, ensuring that it is replaced with equipment that meets the specified performance standards (Section 107.105). Compliance with this directive is critical to ensure the safety of the flight crew by providing the necessary aural warnings when the aircraft is descending, thus preventing potential incidents of controlled flight into terrain (Section 107.106). The directive became effective on 27 March 1997, marking the start date for compliance with the removal and replacement requirements (Section 107.107).
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive can result in significant consequences. The primary regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), can impose penalties and sanctions for non-compliance (Section 107.108). Such penalties may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, and possible criminal charges against the aircraft operators or maintenance personnel responsible for the non-compliance (Section 107.109). The severity of the penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the directive to ensure aviation safety (Section 107.110).