COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Restraint Equipment
AD/RES/12
Amdt 1
Safety Harness Buckle - Pacific Scientific Rotary 8/93
Applicability: All Pacific Scientific rotary buckles manufactured prior to 1971.
Requirement: 1. Inspect to determine if rotary buckle assembly contains a gold or black body plate assembly as identified in Figure 1.
2. For those restraint systems incorporating Pacific Scientific rotary buckles without a gold or black body plate assembly as specified in Figure 1 of this AD:
(a) Substitute any approved restraint system not incorporating the above described rotary buckle; or
(b) Replace the buckle element of the restraint system with a Pacific Scientific buckle element incorporating a gold or black body plate assembly as identified in Figure 1 of this AD.
Compliance: The compliance date of the previous issue of this AD was 1 January 1981. This Amendment is effective from22 July 1993.
Background: Overseas experience has shown that the buckle may fail to open under emergency conditions with possible entrapment of occupant. This amendment has been issued as new design buckles have been manufactured with either gold or block body plate assemblies. Pacific Scientific SB 1101550-25-11 Rev. "B" dated 20 February 1987, refers.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107, contain provisions for the safety directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such directive, AD/RES/12 Amendment 1, pertains specifically to the safety of restraint equipment, particularly Pacific Scientific rotary buckles manufactured before 1971. This directive was enacted to address the safety concern identified where the buckles, in emergency situations, could fail to open, potentially leading to the entrapment of occupants. The objective of this amendment is to enhance safety by requiring inspections and either the substitution or replacement of non-compliant rotary buckles with those containing a gold or black body plate assembly. The amendment came into effect on 22 July 1993, following an update from Pacific Scientific SB 1101550-25-11 Rev. "B" dated 20 February 1987, which referenced the need for new design buckles.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, addresses airworthiness directives related to restraint equipment, including safety harness buckles. In this context, the legislation applies to all Pacific Scientific rotary buckles manufactured before 1971, targeting the aviation industry and all entities operating aircraft that use such buckles. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority within Australia. The legislation mandates inspections to identify buckles without a gold or black body plate assembly and requires either the substitution of an approved restraint system or the replacement of the buckle element with one that includes the specified body plate assembly. This directive aims to enhance safety by mitigating the risk of buckle failure under emergency conditions. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within this specific directive, and compliance is mandatory for all applicable aircraft. The application of this directive is enforced through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and the compliance date for this amendment is 22 July 1993.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to the Pacific Scientific rotary buckle safety harness are sections 1 and 2 (AD/RES/12 Amendment 1). Section 1 specifies the applicability of the directive, stating that it applies to all Pacific Scientific rotary buckles manufactured prior to 1971. Section 2 outlines the requirements for these buckles, which involve inspecting the buckle assembly to identify whether it contains a gold or black body plate assembly as detailed in Figure 1. If the buckle lacks the specified body plate assembly, the directive mandates either substituting the restraint system with an approved one that does not use the described rotary buckle, or replacing the buckle element with one that incorporates the correct gold or black body plate assembly.
The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties and entities it governs are quite specific. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that any Pacific Scientific rotary buckles in their fleet meet the criteria set forth in the directive. This involves conducting a thorough inspection of the buckles to determine their conformity with the required specifications. If non-compliant buckles are found, operators must take corrective action by either replacing the entire restraint system or modifying the buckle element to meet the AD's requirements. The directive also mandates that these actions be completed by the effective date of the amendment, which is 22 July 1993.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this AD can result in significant consequences. While the AD does not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally falls under the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In this context, violations can lead to enforcement actions, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other administrative penalties. The potential severity of these consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the AD's requirements to ensure the safety of aircraft occupants.