COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Short SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SD3-60/50 Emergency Brake Accumulator Mounting Structure
1/99
Applicability: All SD360 aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-29-06. Compliance: Unless already accomplished, before 28 April 1999.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 28 January 1999.
Background: The manufacturer received a report of cracking of the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure. This Directive requires an inspection to detect cracking, and, if necessary, replacement of a support bracket angle.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are comprehensive regulations that govern various aspects of civil aviation within the country, including airworthiness directives. One such directive, AD/SD3-60/50, was introduced to address the specific issue of cracking in the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure of Short SD3-60 series aeroplanes. This legislation was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft by mandating inspections and repairs as required. The policy objective is to prevent potential failures in the emergency brake system, thereby maintaining high safety standards in Australian civil aviation.
The Airworthiness Directive AD/SD3-60/50 became effective on 28 January 1999 and required compliance by 28 April 1999 for all SD360 aircraft. This directive mandates adherence to the manufacturer's Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-29-06, which includes actions such as inspecting the mounting structure for cracks and replacing the support bracket angle if necessary. The directive aims to mitigate the risk of structural failure in the emergency brake system, thereby enhancing the overall safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) SD3-60/50 to address the safety concern regarding the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure in Short SD3-60 Series aeroplanes. This directive applies to all aircraft of the SD360 type and mandates that action must be taken in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-29-06. Specifically, any necessary inspections to detect cracking and subsequent replacement of a support bracket angle must be completed before 28 April 1999. The directive became effective on 28 January 1999, responding to a reported instance of cracking in the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure. CASA's regulatory reach is national, ensuring that all operators and owners of SD360 aircraft within Australia must comply with this directive to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft. No exclusions or exemptions are specified in this directive, and compliance is mandatory for all affected aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, Section 105, introduces a series of Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. One such directive, AD/SD3-60/50, pertains to Short SD360 Series aeroplanes and specifically addresses the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure (Section 1). This directive, issued on 28 January 1999, applies to all SD360 aircraft and mandates compliance by 28 April 1999 unless the required action has already been taken.
The directive requires that all Short SD360 Series aeroplanes undergo an inspection to detect any cracking in the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure (Section 2). Furthermore, if cracking is found, the affected support bracket angle must be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-29-06 (Section 3). This action is necessary to prevent any potential failure of the emergency brake system, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft during operation.
Entities governed by this Act, primarily aircraft operators and maintenance organisations, must ensure that inspections and necessary repairs are carried out as per the directive. They are required to document the compliance process, including the inspection and any subsequent repairs, and maintain records of these actions to demonstrate adherence to the regulatory requirements (Section 4). This obligation extends to all aircraft within their fleet that fall under the applicability of AD/SD3-60/50.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can take enforcement action against non-compliant entities, including issuing fines, grounding of aircraft, or other administrative penalties (Section 5). The specific penalties for non-compliance can vary but may include significant financial penalties, operational restrictions, or even criminal charges in cases of gross negligence or willful disregard of the directive. It is imperative for all stakeholders to adhere strictly to the requirements set out in the directive to avoid these potential repercussions.