AD/SM-205/30 Amdt 3 - Main Landing Gear Brace Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes the AD/SM-205/30 Amendment 3, which pertains to the SIAI Marchetti S205 and S208 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to address issues identified with the main landing gear brace assemblies on these aircraft models. The problem it was introduced to address includes the discovery of cracks in these assemblies, particularly in those modified according to Service Bulletin 205B36, and in replacement braces of later part numbers. The policy objective, as stated in the text, is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by mandating inspections and repairs in accordance with the latest service bulletins and instructions issued by SIAI Marchetti. The enacting body for this regulation is the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Compliance with this directive is required at the next scheduled inspection following the previous issue of the directive in August 1971, and thereafter according to the specified requirement document.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the safety directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for certain aircraft models. One such directive, AD/SM-205/30 Amendment 3, concerns the main landing gear brace assembly of SIAI Marchetti S205 and S208 series aeroplanes, including models S205, 208, and 208A, that are equipped with any of the specified main gear brace assemblies. This regulation applies to all aircraft fitting the described criteria, necessitating inspections and repairs as outlined to maintain airworthiness. The directive stipulates that inspections must be conducted in accordance with SIAI Marchetti Service Bulletin 205B48 F, and any necessary repairs should follow SIAI Marchetti Service Instruction 205IS26A. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and must be achieved at the next inspection due as per the previous version of this directive and subsequently as per the updated Requirement Document. This regulatory measure was introduced due to identified cracks in the main landing gear brace assemblies that had been modified to meet the specifications of Service Bulletin 205B36, and it also addresses issues with replacement braces of subsequent production numbers. The directive references the Australian Regulatory Authority Instruction AD 95-120 and updates the previous directive issued in August 1971, which was based on component hours in service.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes specific airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, with AD/SM-205/30 Amendment 3 focusing on SIAI Marchetti S205 and S208 series aeroplanes. This directive addresses the main landing gear (MLG) brace assembly, applying to all models S205, 208, and 208A that are fitted with the relevant main gear brace assemblies specified in the requirement document (Section 1). The primary requirement of this directive is to inspect the MLG brace assemblies in accordance with SIAI Marchetti Service Bulletin 205B48 F, and to repair them as necessary according to SIAI Marchetti Service Instruction 205IS26A. The directive also references RAI AD 95-120 for additional guidance. Compliance with this directive involves ensuring that inspections and repairs are carried out at the next due inspection, as specified in the previous version of the directive, and thereafter in line with the requirement document. The previous directive, dated August 1971, based compliance on the component hours in service. This directive updates and replaces that older directive, mandating that inspections and repairs must now be done according to the current requirement document. The obligations imposed by this directive on the operators and maintainers of SIAI Marchetti S205 and S208 series aeroplanes include conducting thorough inspections of the MLG brace assemblies as per the specified service bulletin. If any cracks or defects are identified during the inspection, they must be repaired according to the specified service instruction. The operators must ensure that these inspections and repairs are performed in a timely manner, adhering to the schedule outlined in the requirement document. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive can result in serious safety risks, as cracks in the MLG brace assemblies can lead to structural failure during flight. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations and can impose penalties for non-compliance. The potential penalties for breaching these regulations can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are satisfactorily completed. The exact penalties are determined based on the severity of the breach and the potential risk to safety posed by the non-compliance.