Overview

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow 650 Series Aeroplanes, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in 2004, is an essential legislative instrument aimed at addressing a specific safety concern identified in these aircraft models. This AD was introduced to rectify an issue where worn throttle lever stops had caused an engine to stop during flight, necessitating significant force from the pilot to manipulate the throttle. This problem was traced to the throttle stops not incorporating the specified part number (P/N) R05000-11/01, as outlined in the relevant service bulletins. The AD mandates inspections and replacements of the throttle lever stops to prevent recurrence of such unsafe conditions, ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft models. The directive underscores the commitment of CASA to maintaining high safety standards within the Australian aviation sector by promptly addressing identified hazards.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) applies to the Sky Arrow Model 650TC, 650TCN, and 650TCNS aircraft, as specified by their serial numbers in Iniziative Industriali Italiane Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/03 Revision 1, and specifically to those aircraft that do not incorporate part number (P/N) R05000-11/01 throttle stops. The directive mandates that the actions outlined in the requirement section must be undertaken under specific circumstances and in accordance with the instructions given. The directive is effective from 28 January 2004 and applies within the Commonwealth of Australia. The AD necessitates the inspection and replacement of throttle lever stops to mitigate the risk of engine stoppage in flight due to worn throttle stops. Compliance with these requirements involves inspecting the throttle lever stops before further flight and at intervals not exceeding 100 flight hours, unless previously accomplished, and replacing the throttle lever stops by 30 June 2004. This directive is part of the broader regulatory framework aimed at ensuring the safety of aviation operations within Australia.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, applies to the Sky Arrow Model 650TC, 650TCN, and 650TCNS aircraft. Specifically, it targets those aircraft that are identified by their serial numbers and do not incorporate the part number (P/N) R05000-11/01 throttle stops (subsection 3). The AD mandates certain actions to address an unsafe condition identified in these aircraft, namely, the worn throttle lever stops which have led to incidents of engine stoppage during flight (subsection 2). The directive requires two main actions to be taken. Firstly, the throttle lever stops must be inspected in accordance with Chapter 4 of Iniziative Industriali Italiane Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/03 Revision 1 (subsection 1(a)). Secondly, these throttle lever stops must be replaced following the instructions set out in Chapters 5 and 6 of the same bulletin (subsection 1(b)). It is imperative that these actions be completed under the specific circumstances and time frames outlined in the compliance section of the AD (subsection 3). The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD include ensuring that the inspections and replacements of the throttle lever stops are conducted as required. Specifically, the inspections must be carried out unless they have already been completed, before further flight, and then at intervals not exceeding 100 flight hours (subsection 3(a)). The replacement of the throttle stops must occur before 30 June 2004 (subsection 3(b)). Failure to comply with these obligations could result in serious safety implications, as the AD is a direct response to reports of worn throttle lever stops causing engine stoppages in flight. In terms of consequences, the AD does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance. However, under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, failure to comply with an AD can result in severe civil and criminal penalties. These can include fines and imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring airworthiness and safety in aviation. The exact penalties would be determined by the applicable laws and the specific circumstances of non-compliance.