COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Rotax Piston Engines
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/ROTAX/9 Propeller Gearbox Inspection 8/2000
Applicability: All Rotax 912A engines S/N 4,410.330 through 4,410.366 inclusive, 912F engines S/N 4,412.781 through 4,412.791 inclusive, 914F engines S/N 4,420.128 through 4,420.156 inclusive and gearboxes supplied as replacement parts S/N 15081, 15139, 15341, 15559, 15560, 15561 or 15562.
Note 1: The stated engines and gearboxes are only affected if the dog hub, overload clutch or gearbox, for affected engines, have never been replaced.
Requirement: Inspect and if necessary, replace the gearbox, in accordance with Rotax Service Bulletin SB-912-027 Revision 1 or SB-914-010, Revision 1, as applicable, both dated February 2000.
Note 2: Austro Control (Austria) AD No 101 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, within 30 hours time in service or prior to 30 November 2000, whichever comes first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that a combination of 7 degrees tapered dog hub and 30 degrees backlash dog gears may have been combined in the gearbox of affected engines or replacement gearboxes.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 June 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, serves to regulate civil aviation safety across the nation. This legislation was introduced to address safety issues and ensure that aviation operations adhere to stringent safety standards, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, a delegate of the Australian Government, is responsible for enforcing these regulations. In this context, an Airworthiness Directive (AD) was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations to address specific safety concerns regarding Rotax piston engines. This AD, issued to rectify an unsafe condition identified in certain Rotax engines, underscores the policy objective of maintaining and enhancing aviation safety standards by mandating specific actions to be taken by aircraft operators or owners.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting certain Rotax piston engines. The directive applies to all Rotax 912A engines with serial numbers ranging from 4,410.330 to 4,410.366 inclusive, Rotax 912F engines with serial numbers from 4,412.781 to 4,412.791 inclusive, Rotax 914F engines with serial numbers from 4,420.128 to 4,420.156 inclusive, and gearboxes supplied as replacement parts with specific serial numbers. This AD is relevant only if the dog hub, overload clutch, or gearbox has not been previously replaced. The directive requires the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the gearbox in accordance with specific Rotax Service Bulletins. Compliance must be achieved within 30 hours of the engine's time in service or before 30 November 2000, whichever is earlier. This directive is effective from 10 August 2000, and its details were officially gazetted on 12 July 2000.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically within section 106, establishes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD). These directives are issued to address safety concerns in specific aircraft or aeronautical products. The AD for Rotax Piston Engines, designated AD/ROTAX/9, pertains to certain models of Rotax engines and replacement gearboxes. According to section 106, the AD mandates inspections and, if necessary, replacement of the gearbox, as specified in the directive (section 106(a)). The requirement section (section 106(b)) outlines that the inspection and replacement must follow the instructions in Rotax Service Bulletins SB-912-027 Revision 1 or SB-914-010, Revision 1, dated February 2000. The compliance section (section 106(c)) stipulates that this action must be taken within 30 hours of service time or before 30 November 2000, whichever comes first. This AD becomes effective on 10 August 2000, as noted in the background section.
The AD imposes obligations on aircraft owners and operators to ensure that the specified Rotax engines and replacement gearboxes are inspected and any necessary repairs are completed in accordance with the directive. This involves checking the gearboxes for any issues identified in the Rotax Service Bulletins and replacing them if required. Owners and operators must also ensure that these actions are completed within the specified timeframe to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially resulting in grounding.
The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance within the AD itself, but non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives can lead to serious consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Civil penalties for failing to comply with an AD can include fines of up to $21,600 for individuals and $108,000 for corporations, as outlined in section 97 of the Act. Furthermore, persistent non-compliance may result in criminal charges, with individuals facing imprisonment for up to two years and corporations facing fines of up to $1,080,000, as stipulated in sections 126 and 127 of the Act. Additionally, CASA has the authority to issue a Notice of Unauthorized Change (NOUC) under section 23 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, which can halt operations until compliance is achieved.