COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Restraint Equipment
AD/RES/27
Amdt 2
HEMCO Seat Belts and Harnesses 13/96
Applicability: All seat belts and harnesses manufactured or repaired by HEMCO Industries and all seat belts and harnesses which are fitted with a buckle marked HEMCO.
Requirement: Remove from service except:
1. Harnesses produced under CTA No 75-1 for Civil Flying Service Pty Ltd (CFS) and identified as CF 1009 or CF 1009R.
Note 1. Seat belts and harnesses described above which may continue in service are those with a label which contains the following:
Hemco Industries Pty Ltd West Brunswick Victoria Part No.
Rated 2400 lbs Date
Conforms ANO 108-4-13 Civil Flying Service
Note 2: However, those seat belts and harnesses with a label containing the following are NOT acceptable:
Hemco Code No.
Serial No.
Date of Manufacture Issued
Batch No RATED 4500 lbs Lic Approval C.F.S. Hemco Industries P/L AUST 3055 CABLES: Hemcode
Compliance: At next inspection for maintenance release issue after 31 December 1996 but no later than 1 March 1997.
This Amendment is effective from 5 December 1996.
Background: Initially HEMCO seat belts and harnesses were manufactured under CFS approval.
However, later seat belts and harnesses have been manufactured and repaired by HEMCO without approval. Recent tests have indicated that inappropriate webbing material with the original hardware may result in the belt slipping when loaded.
Amendment 1 was issued to include HEMCO belts which have been re-webbed and no longer have a Hemco label and to provide further information for identification of unacceptable belts.
Amendment 2 is issued to include seat belts with P/N CF1010. Examples of these belts have been found with incorrect webbing material. The compliance time has been extended.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 23 July 1994.
Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 10 December 1994.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, addresses safety concerns regarding restraint equipment within civil aviation through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The regulations were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft and related equipment. One significant directive under this act is the Airworthiness Directive AD/RES/27, which governs the removal of HEMCO seat belts and harnesses from service due to safety issues. The directive was introduced to rectify a problem identified with certain seat belts and harnesses manufactured or repaired by HEMCO Industries, where inappropriate webbing material combined with the original hardware could lead to belts slipping under load. This issue was identified through testing and led to the directive's issuance to ensure continued safety in civil aviation. The policy objective is to mandate the removal of non-compliant equipment and specify exceptions for harnesses that meet certain criteria, thereby mitigating potential safety risks.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directives (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically target seat belts and harnesses manufactured or repaired by HEMCO Industries and those fitted with a buckle marked HEMCO. This directive applies to all such products and is designed to ensure the safety of aviation passengers by regulating the continued service of these items. The directive mandates the removal of affected seat belts and harnesses from service, except for those produced under specific conditions and identified with particular markings. These exemptions include harnesses produced under CTA No 75-1 for Civil Flying Service Pty Ltd (CFS) and identified as CF 1009 or CF 1009R, provided they bear the correct labelling. Contrarily, seat belts and harnesses with labels containing certain specifications, such as a rating of 4500 lbs or a particular manufacturing date, are not acceptable and must also be removed from service. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be addressed at the next inspection for maintenance, with the directive becoming effective from 5 December 1996. The AD extends its reach across the Commonwealth, ensuring nationwide adherence to safety standards in civil aviation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 107 and the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, contain a directive (AD/RES/27) regarding restraint equipment for aircraft, focusing on seat belts and harnesses manufactured or repaired by HEMCO Industries. According to the directive (AD/RES/27), all such seat belts and harnesses must be removed from service, except those produced under specific conditions. For instance, harnesses created under CTA No 75-1 for Civil Flying Service Pty Ltd (CFS) and identified as CF 1009 or CF 1009R are exceptions (Section 1). These acceptable harnesses must have a label containing specific details, including the manufacturer's name, part number, rated capacity, date of conformity, and Civil Flying Service approval notation (Section 1, Note 1). However, harnesses with labels that mention different ratings, codes, or serial numbers are not acceptable (Section 1, Note 2).
The obligations imposed by this directive require aircraft operators and maintenance personnel to inspect their seat belts and harnesses to determine their eligibility for continued service. For those that are subject to the removal directive, they must be taken out of service promptly. Conversely, those identified as acceptable under the specific criteria must be retained and clearly labelled as such. Compliance with these directives is mandatory, and failure to adhere to the specified requirements can result in significant safety risks, as inappropriate webbing material and original hardware may lead to belts slipping under load (Section 1, Background).
Any breach of these airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. Non-compliance with the removal and labelling requirements may result in severe civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the breach. Under Australian law, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations, and penalties may include fines, aircraft grounding, or even prosecution for individuals or corporations found in violation of the directive. The exact penalties can vary, but they are intended to ensure stringent adherence to safety standards within the aviation industry.