COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Short SC7 (Skyvan) Series Aeroplanes
AD/SC7/24 Main Landing Gear Shock Absorber Attachment Pin 10/95
Applicability: All Skyvan MK 3, 3A, 3M and Skyliner series aircraft fitted with main landing gear type numbers EH1831-D, EH1832-D, EH1837-B, EH1838-B, EH1885-1 and EH1886-1.
Requirement: Replace the main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin P/N EH183113 with a new pin of the same P/N or with a new design pin, P/N 200621639.
Note: CAA(UK) AD 004-04-81 refers.
Compliance: If pin P/N EH183113 has exceeded 5280 landings, replace before 14 November 1995 or before 300 landings after 14 September 1995, whichever is the sooner.
Continue to replace pin P/N EH183113 at 5280 landing intervals, replace pin P/N 200621639 at 23 000 landing intervals.
Background: A life limitation has been established on main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin. Installation of a new part number pin provides a substantial increase in fatigue life.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to address safety and regulatory concerns within the aviation sector, including the need for detailed and enforceable safety directives. The regulations were enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a comprehensive framework governing civil aviation operations, safety standards, and compliance requirements. Part 39 - 105 within these regulations specifically deals with Airworthiness Directives, which are mandatory orders issued by CASA to address safety issues in aircraft design, manufacture, or maintenance. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B06798, targets the Skyvan series aeroplanes and mandates the replacement of the main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin to ensure continued airworthiness and safety. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with fatigue and failure of critical components, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, mandate the compliance with the Airworthiness Directives concerning the main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin for certain Skyvan series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all Skyvan MK 3, 3A, 3M and Skyliner series aircraft that are equipped with main landing gear types EH1831-D, EH1832-D, EH1837-B, EH1838-B, EH1885-1, and EH1886-1. The requirement is to replace the existing main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin, P/N EH183113, with either a new pin of the same part number or with a newly designed pin, P/N 200621639. This directive is aimed at enhancing safety by addressing a fatigue issue that has been identified with the current pin design. The scope of this regulation extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all relevant aircraft and operators within the national jurisdiction adhere to these safety standards. The regulation does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions but implies that all specified aircraft must comply with the outlined requirements to maintain airworthiness.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, detail the requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft. The directive AD/SC7/24 (10/95) pertains to Skyvan series aeroplanes, including the MK 3, 3A, 3M, and Skyliner models, which are equipped with particular types of main landing gear. The directive mandates that the main landing gear shock absorber attachment pin (1) must be replaced under specified conditions. The main landing gear types in question are identified by the numbers EH1831-D, EH1832-D, EH1837-B, EH1838-B, EH1885-1, and EH1886-1. The directive requires that the existing pin, identified by the part number (P/N) EH183113, be replaced either with a new pin of the same part number or with a new design pin, identified by P/N 200621639 (2).
The obligations imposed by this directive on the relevant parties, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, include ensuring compliance with the specified replacement intervals. If the existing pin P/N EH183113 has exceeded 5280 landings, it must be replaced before 14 November 1995, or before 300 landings after 14 September 1995, whichever occurs sooner. After this initial replacement, the pin must continue to be replaced every 5280 landings. If the replacement is with the new design pin P/N 200621639, it must be replaced every 23,000 landings (3). This ensures that the integrity of the landing gear is maintained throughout the aircraft's operational life.
Failure to comply with these directives may result in serious safety implications, potentially leading to severe civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the directive, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other legal repercussions. Such measures are designed to ensure that all aircraft meet the necessary safety standards and that operators are held accountable for maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements (4).