COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Robin Aviation Series Aeroplanes
AD/ROBIN/29 Hydraulic Lines 11/96
Applicability: All HR 100/250 and HR 100/285 series aircraft fitted with retractable landing gear.
Requirement: Replace the inlet and outlet pipes of the Retractable Gear (R/G) hydraulic pump as required by Avions Pierre Robin SB No 148 dated April 26, 1996.
Note: DGAC AD 96-147(A) refers.
Compliance: Unless previously carried out, at the next scheduled aircraft maintenance inspection and thereafter, at every second disassembly of the pipes.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that frequent removal and re-tightening of the tube fitting nuts located at the end of the fluid pipes has resulted in cracking of the tubing flares.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B06627, were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia, addressing the need for stringent oversight and regulatory compliance for aircraft operations. This particular regulation, under PART 39 - 105, specifically targets the maintenance and airworthiness directives for Robin Aviation Series Aeroplanes, aiming to mitigate risks associated with hydraulic system failures. The instrument was introduced to address the problem of cracking in the hydraulic lines of HR 100/250 and HR 100/285 series aircraft with retractable landing gear, as identified by the manufacturer's service bulletin. The Australian Parliament enacted this legislation to ensure that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority can mandate necessary safety measures, thereby upholding high standards of aviation safety and protecting the public from potential hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, mandate the applicability of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft within Australian airspace. This particular directive, AD/ROBIN/29, pertains to all HR 100/250 and HR 100/285 series aircraft equipped with retractable landing gear. The directive requires the replacement of the inlet and outlet pipes of the retractable gear hydraulic pump, following the specifications outlined in Avions Pierre Robin Service Bulletin No 148 dated April 26, 1996. This directive aligns with DGAC AD 96-147(A) and must be adhered to during the next scheduled maintenance inspection and subsequently, at every alternate disassembly of the pipes. The directive applies to all relevant aircraft within Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring compliance with national safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Robin Aviation Series Aeroplanes, specifically the hydraulic lines for the HR 100/250 and HR 100/285 series aircraft equipped with retractable landing gear. This directive, AD/ROBIN/29 issued in 1996, mandates the replacement of the inlet and outlet pipes of the Retractable Gear (R/G) hydraulic pump (Section 1). This requirement is to address issues identified by the manufacturer, Avions Pierre Robin, in their Service Bulletin No 148 dated April 26, 1996, where frequent removal and re-tightening of the tube fitting nuts have caused cracking of the tubing flares.
In terms of compliance, Section 2 of the AD stipulates that the replacement of the hydraulic lines must be performed unless it has already been carried out. The directive requires this action to be undertaken at the next scheduled aircraft maintenance inspection and subsequently, at every second disassembly of the pipes. This ensures that the aircraft remain airworthy and that the risk of hydraulic failure is mitigated.
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and require compliance from aircraft owners and maintenance personnel. Owners must ensure that the specified maintenance actions are performed according to the schedule outlined in the AD. Maintenance personnel must carry out the replacement of the hydraulic lines as directed, ensuring that they adhere to the manufacturer's specifications and the AD's stipulations. Failure to comply with these obligations can lead to serious safety implications, as the hydraulic system is critical for the operation of the retractable landing gear.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/ROBIN/29 can result in significant consequences. Section 3 of the regulations details that non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions could include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potentially criminal charges if the non-compliance is deemed to have caused an aviation incident. The exact penalties and consequences are outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which provides for penalties up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals for serious breaches. The severity of the penalties reflects the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations.