COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Short SD3-60 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/SD3-60/57 Flight Control Trim Chain Connecting Link 8/2000
Applicability: All SD3-60 aircraft.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD3-60-27-30. 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, specifically under Part 39, include the Airworthiness Directives (AD) aimed at ensuring the safety of civil aviation within Australia. The AD/SD3-60/57, issued in August 2000, targets all SD3-60 aircraft and addresses an issue identified with the flight control trim chain connecting link, which had been incorrectly manufactured using a 'spring clip'. This manufacturing defect did not meet the necessary Class 1 locking requirements, posing a potential safety risk. The directive was issued by Bernard Malcolm Hole, a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), under the authority granted by subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The AD mandates an inspection in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD3-60-27-30 and became effective on 10 August 2000, ensuring that the unsafe condition is corrected in a timely manner.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, governs the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1). This legislation applies to all SD3-60 series aeroplanes, necessitating specific actions to rectify identified unsafe conditions to ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. The requirement outlined in the Airworthiness Directive (AD/SD3-60/57) mandates an inspection of the flight control trim chain connecting link in accordance with the instructions specified in Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD3-60-27-30. This directive became effective from 10 August 2000, following a report indicating that the connecting link was incorrectly manufactured using a 'spring clip' that did not meet Class 1 locking requirements. The authority to issue such directives extends to CASA delegates, as evidenced by the signature of Bernard Malcolm Hole, who issued the directive on 22 June 2000. The AD was subsequently notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 12 July 2000, ensuring transparency and widespread communication of the directive to all relevant parties.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, specifically AD/SD3-60/57, mandates that all SD3-60 aircraft must undergo an inspection of the flight control trim chain connecting link as per the instructions outlined in Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD3-60-27-30 (section 1). This directive applies to all aircraft of the SD3-60 series (section 2). The requirement entails an inspection process to ensure the connecting link meets the necessary safety standards, as it was reported that some trim cable/chain assemblies were manufactured using a spring clip connecting link that does not comply with the Class 1 locking requirements (section 3). Compliance with this AD must be achieved according to the specified timeline and instructions provided in the requirement document (section 4).
The obligations imposed by this AD include ensuring that all SD3-60 series aircraft are inspected by certified personnel in accordance with the outlined service bulletin. The inspection must identify any instances where the connecting link does not meet the Class 1 locking requirements and take appropriate corrective action as necessary (section 5). Operators of these aircraft are required to maintain records of the inspections and any corrective actions taken, ensuring these records are readily available for review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) or other authorised officials (section 6).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety risks, and in such cases, the AD explicitly outlines the potential consequences. While the AD does not specify penalties, non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including the potential grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and necessary repairs are completed (section 7). This could have significant operational impacts on the aircraft operator, including financial costs associated with delays and additional compliance measures. The overarching aim of these provisions is to ensure that all SD3-60 aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to prevent unsafe conditions that could compromise flight safety.