AD/SD3-60/38 Amdt 1 - Wing Strut Distance Piece and Adjacent Side Plates Corrosion

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, address the issuance of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of civil aviation. The regulation in question, AD/SD3-60/38 Amendment 1, was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to tackle the specific issue of corrosion detected on the wing strut distance piece and adjacent side plates of Short SD3-60 Series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument, issued by the Australian Government, aims to mandate inspections and corrective actions to mitigate the risk of structural failure due to corrosion. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring inspections within a defined timeframe and subsequent reinspections of any reworked components to ensure ongoing airworthiness. The enactment of this regulation by the Australian Parliament underscores the importance of stringent safety measures within the aviation industry. The directive is a response to identified safety concerns, specifically corrosion on critical aircraft components, and its policy objective is to enhance aircraft safety by ensuring regular and thorough inspections of the affected parts. This proactive approach seeks to prevent potential failures that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft, thereby protecting both passengers and crew.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 – 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to all models of Short SD3-60 Series aeroplanes. This legislation mandates specific actions concerning the inspection and maintenance of the wing strut distance piece and adjacent side plates to ensure ongoing airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. The requirements outlined are to be carried out in accordance with the Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) SD360-53-38 Revision 1, and completing SB SD360-53-39 serves as the terminating action for the inspections specified in SB SD360-53-38. Compliance with these directives is crucial, requiring inspections of both the distance piece and adjacent side plates within 30 days of 19 August 1993, unless such inspections have already been completed. Furthermore, any reworked distance pieces and side plates must be reinspected at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of time in service or three months, whichever comes first. This regulation underscores the importance of rigorous maintenance practices to mitigate the risk of corrosion, as evidenced by previous detections on the horizontal leg of the distance piece during non-routine maintenance. The amendment issued ensures that any updated procedures or additional inspection points, such as the side plates, are incorporated into the maintenance regime.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, introduce specific airworthiness directives through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) schedule. One such directive is AD/SD3-60/38 Amendment 1, which concerns the inspection and maintenance of the wing strut distance piece and adjacent side plates on all models of Short SD3-60 series aeroplanes. The directive mandates that these components be inspected and maintained to prevent corrosion, a problem identified during non-routine maintenance on the horizontal leg of the distance piece. Specifically, section (a) of the directive requires that unless the inspection of both the distance piece and the adjacent side plates has already been completed, this inspection must occur within 30 days after 19 August 1993. Furthermore, section (b) requires that any reworked distance pieces or side plates be reinspected at intervals not exceeding 600 hours of time in service or 3 months, whichever comes first. The obligations imposed by this directive are quite clear. Operators and owners of Short SD3-60 series aeroplanes must ensure that the inspections and reinspections are carried out as specified. This includes the initial inspection within the stipulated timeframe and subsequent reinspections at the defined intervals. Additionally, the directive mandates adherence to the Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-53-38 Revision 1, which provides detailed instructions on how to perform the required inspections and actions. Compliance with these provisions is essential to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directives can lead to serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with CASA directives can result in significant penalties. Specifically, the Civil Aviation Regulations outline various offences, including operating an aircraft that does not meet airworthiness standards. The penalties for these offences can be severe, both civilly and criminally. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of ensuring that aircraft are maintained to the highest safety standards. Ensuring adherence to these directives is therefore not only a legal obligation but also a critical safety measure.