COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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 CASR 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.
Short SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes
AD/SD3-60/65 Main Landing Gear Aft Pintle Pin Bushes 8/2003
Applicability: All SD3-60 aircraft.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-32-36.
Compliance: At the next “D” Check after 7 August 2003 or before 30 April 2005, whichever occurs first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 7 August 2003.
Background: The manufacturer received a report of an accident where the main landing gear failed to fully extend and lock. Investigation revealed deterioration and corrosion of the aft pintle pin bushes. Additionally, a high frequency of landing gear indication problems appear to be associated with deterioration of the aft pintle pin bushes.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 18 June 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39-105, encompasses a schedule of airworthiness directives, including AD/SD3-60/65, which pertains to the maintenance of main landing gear aft pintle pin bushes in SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), this legislation was introduced to address the problem of unsafe conditions arising from the deterioration and corrosion of aft pintle pin bushes, which had been linked to landing gear malfunctions and accidents. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the safety of aircraft by mandating specific maintenance actions as outlined in the Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-32-36, to be performed during the next scheduled "D" Check, with compliance required by 30 April 2005. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 August 2003, as notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, establish the framework within which the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issues Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD/SD3-60/65) pertains to all SD3-60 series aircraft and mandates corrective action regarding the main landing gear aft pintle pin bushes to address safety concerns identified after an accident and recurrent issues with landing gear indication problems. The directive requires adherence to the instructions set out in Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-32-36 and mandates compliance at the next "D" Check following the AD’s issuance on 7 August 2003, or before 30 April 2005, whichever is earlier. The AD applies nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia and its scope is limited to the specified aircraft model and the identified issue. The directive is issued under the authority of a CASA delegate and becomes effective from the date of its notification in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 16 July 2003.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, addresses the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Section 39.1 (1) empowers a CASA delegate to issue an AD when necessary to correct an unsafe condition. The AD in question, AD/SD3-60/65, pertains to the SD3-60 Series Aeroplanes and mandates specific action to be taken concerning the main landing gear aft pintle pin bushes (section 1). The directive applies to all SD3-60 aircraft and requires the action as per Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-32-36 (section 2). The compliance period is set to the next “D” Check following 7 August 2003, but no later than 30 April 2005 (section 3).
Under the AD, the primary obligation for the operators of SD3-60 aircraft is to adhere to the instructions outlined in Shorts Mandatory Service Bulletin SD360-32-36. This involves inspecting and potentially replacing the main landing gear aft pintle pin bushes to prevent the unsafe condition identified in the background section, which includes the risk of the main landing gear failing to fully extend and lock due to deterioration and corrosion of the pin bushes (section 2). Operators must ensure that these actions are completed within the specified compliance period, which is the next “D” Check following the AD issuance date or before 30 April 2005, whichever comes first (section 3).
Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant legal and operational repercussions. The AD explicitly states that it becomes effective on 7 August 2003, and any non-compliance could potentially render the aircraft unsafe for operation. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the AD itself, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 could apply. These may include enforcement actions, fines, and in severe cases, grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. The severity of the consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the AD to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft.