COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Short SC7 (Skyvan) Series Aeroplanes
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/SC7/28 Flight Control Trim Chain Connecting Link 8/2000
Applicability: All SC7 Series aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-76. Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 August 2000.
Background: The manufacturer received a report indicating that a trim cable/chain assembly had been incorrectly manufactured using ‘spring clip’ connecting link. This means of connection does not meet the requirements for Class 1 locking.
Bernard Malcolm Hole
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 22 June 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted in 1998, address the need for comprehensive regulations governing the safety and operation of aircraft within Australia. This legislation is overseen by the Australian Parliament and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for ensuring that all civil aviation activities are conducted in a safe and efficient manner. One of the key policy objectives of CAR 1998 is to mandate specific actions to maintain airworthiness, as exemplified by the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1). This particular AD, AD/SC7/28, targets the SC7 (Skyvan) Series aeroplanes and was introduced to address a safety concern related to the incorrect manufacturing of a trim cable/chain assembly using a non-compliant 'spring clip' connecting link. The directive mandates a thorough inspection in accordance with the manufacturer’s Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-76 to rectify the unsafe condition, ensuring that all affected aircraft meet the necessary safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under Part 39 - 105, govern the safety standards for aviation within Australia, ensuring compliance with international standards and protecting public safety. This particular Airworthiness Directive, AD/SC7/28, applies specifically to all SC7 Series aircraft, mandating that a detailed inspection of the flight control trim chain connecting link be conducted. This requirement arises from a report that identified a manufacturing defect in the trim cable/chain assembly, specifically the use of a 'spring clip' connecting link that does not meet Class 1 locking requirements. The directive requires adherence to the instructions outlined in Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-76, and compliance must be achieved within the timeframe specified in the directive, which became effective from 10 August 2000. This AD extends its jurisdictional reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which issued the directive under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Any exemptions or exclusions are not specified in the directive itself, and the implementation of the directive is subject to the regulations and subordinate instruments as outlined by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) SC7/28 (paragraph 1) issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates specific actions to rectify an identified unsafe condition. This AD applies to all SC7 Series aircraft (paragraph 2) and requires an inspection of the flight control trim chain connecting link in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-76 (paragraph 3). Compliance with this directive must be achieved as specified in the requirement document and becomes effective from 10 August 2000 (paragraph 4).
The AD imposes a clear obligation on the operators of SC7 Series aircraft to conduct the specified inspection. This inspection must be carried out following the guidelines detailed in the Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-76 to ensure that the trim cable/chain assembly does not use a 'spring clip' connecting link, which fails to meet the necessary Class 1 locking requirements (paragraph 3). Operators are required to adhere to the instructions and timeframes outlined in the AD to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft (paragraph 4).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in the aircraft not meeting the required safety standards, potentially leading to operational restrictions or grounding of the aircraft until the necessary inspection and corrective actions are performed. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the AD, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can generally result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, including fines and potential prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (paragraphs 5 and 6). The severity of these penalties depends on the nature and extent of the non-compliance.