COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Restraint Equipment
AD/RES/10
Amdt 4
Indiana Mills Safety Belts 4/94
Applicability: All safety belt assemblies model IMM 111040-1, -2, -3, -4 and -8 manufactured by Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc. and all safety belts with buckles P/N 10365 or IMM 10365.
Requirement: 1. Remove safety belt from service and replace with a safety harness or safety belt, as applicable, approved in accordance with CAO 108.42; or,
2. If the buckle is of the lever action type with P/N 10365 or IMM 10365, the seat belt may remain in service after the following modification. To improve access to the buckle release lever, remove and discard the decorative cover from the safety belt tongue assembly. This may be accomplished by prying off the plastic cover with a screwdriver.
Note: FAA AD 79-16-02, CAA (UK) AD 010-11-81 and Transport Canada AD CF- 91-39 refer.
Compliance: The compliance date of Amendment 2 of this Directive was 9 December 1993. This Amendment is effective from 31 March 1994.
Background: The FAA raised AD 79-16-02 as the push button release did not meet the release requirements of TSO-C22F. However, subsequent investigation by the U.K. CAA indicated that buckle assemblies P/N 10365 of both push button and lever types have had release problems and could have been fitted to harness assemblies other than Model IMM 111040. Lever action buckles have been involved in two fatal accidents when access to the release lever was restricted by the decorative cover on the tongue assembly.
Amendment 2 was raised to clarify background information regarding the buckle assemblies.
Amendment 3 was raised to clarify applicability to both push button and lever type buckles.
Amendment 4 is raised to provide an alternative means of compliance for lever action buckles.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, form a critical component of the legislative framework governing civil aviation safety. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety standards and regulatory oversight in the aviation industry. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations includes a schedule of airworthiness directives designed to ensure that aircraft and related equipment meet the highest safety standards. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is responsible for enforcing these directives, aiming to safeguard the integrity of the national airspace and protect the public from aviation-related hazards. The policy objective behind these regulations is to mandate the highest level of safety and operational reliability in civil aviation, thereby fostering public confidence in air travel.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, addresses safety directives pertaining to restraint equipment within the aviation industry. One such directive, AD/RES/10 Amendment 4, targets safety belt assemblies model IMM 111040-1, -2, -3, -4, and -8 manufactured by Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc., as well as safety belts with buckles P/N 10365 or IMM 10365. This regulation applies to all such safety belts currently in use within the Australian aviation sector. The directive mandates either the removal of these safety belts from service and their replacement with approved alternatives or, for lever action buckles with specified part numbers, the modification of the safety belt to improve access to the buckle release lever by removing the decorative cover. This directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is binding within Australia’s national jurisdiction, impacting both operators and manufacturers of the specified restraint equipment. The regulation aims to address safety concerns identified in previous directives and international safety standards, ensuring compliance to mitigate risks associated with buckle release mechanisms.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 107, mandates the safety requirements for restraint equipment used in aviation, as detailed in the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Indiana Mills safety belts. Section 107 of the AD/RES/10 Amendment 4 pertains to all safety belt assemblies model IMM 111040-1, -2, -3, -4, and -8 manufactured by Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc., as well as all safety belts with buckles P/N 10365 or IMM 10365. The directive requires either the removal of these safety belts from service and their replacement with a safety harness or another approved safety belt in line with CAO 108.42, or a specific modification for lever action buckles of the type P/N 10365 or IMM 10365. For these lever action buckles, the safety belts may continue in service provided the decorative cover on the safety belt tongue assembly is removed to facilitate access to the buckle release lever.
Entities governed by these regulations must ensure that all applicable safety belts are either replaced or modified as per the directive. This includes conducting inspections to identify and remove non-compliant safety belts and ensuring that any modifications are carried out correctly. Operators must also maintain records of compliance and modifications for audit purposes. The compliance date for this directive was set as 9 December 1993, with the amendment coming into effect from 31 March 1994.
Failure to comply with these provisions can result in significant legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations. Non-compliance may result in penalties for the entities involved, which could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges. The severity of the penalty will depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but in serious cases, individuals could face imprisonment. It is imperative that all entities comply with these directives to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on aircraft.