AD/SUPP/6 - Air Equipment Hoists

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through Legislative Instrument F2006B07151, aim to enhance safety standards for air equipment hoists within the aviation industry. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, this regulation addresses a specific safety concern identified in certain models of air equipment hoists, particularly those with part numbers 76375, 76375-02, and 76375-100, and serial numbers within a specific range. The issue at hand involves potential breakage of a travel limit control screw due to a dimensional error, which could compromise the up and down slow down function of the hoist. This regulation mandates that operators modify the hoist cable by painting limit marks as specified in Aerospatiale Telex 807 and 848 (AHC No. 046) and necessitates corresponding changes to the Flight Manual. The overarching policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these hoists, thereby protecting both crew and passengers from potential hazards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to Air Equipment Hoists with certain part and serial numbers. These directives apply to air equipment hoists identified by specific part numbers (76375, 76375-02, and 76375-100) and corresponding serial numbers (19,63 through 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78 through 100, 108, and 109). The requirement stipulated in these regulations involves modifying the hoist cable by painting limit marks in accordance with Aerospatiale Telex 807 and 848 (AHC No. 046). Furthermore, operators are obligated to amend their flight manuals to reflect these changes and must seek guidance from their nearest Airworthiness Office to ensure compliance with the new specifications. This modification must be implemented before any further use of the affected hoist to mitigate the risk of failure due to breakage of a travel limit control screw caused by a dimensional error.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes AD/SUPP/6 concerning Air Equipment Hoists (sections 5/85). This directive applies to all Air Equipment Hoists with particular part numbers (P/Nos. 76375, 76375-02, and 76375-100) and specific serial numbers (S/Nos. 19,63 through 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78 through 100, 108, and 109). The key requirement under this directive is to modify the hoist cable by painting limit marks in accordance with the specifications outlined in Aerospatiale Telex 807 and 848 (AHC No. 046). Operators must also ensure that the necessary changes are made to the Flight Manual. It is recommended that operators contact their nearest Airworthiness Office to facilitate these amendments. Operators of the specified air equipment hoists must ensure that the modifications to the hoist cables, including the painting of limit marks, are completed before the hoists are used again. This requirement aims to address a potential safety issue where a breakage of a travel limit control screw due to dimensional errors could compromise the up and down slow-down function of the hoist, potentially leading to unsafe conditions. In addition to the physical modifications, operators are obligated to update the Flight Manual to reflect these changes. This dual requirement ensures that both the equipment and the operational procedures are aligned to maintain safety standards. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive could result in serious safety implications. The regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 impose strict obligations on operators to ensure that their equipment meets the specified airworthiness standards. Non-compliance with AD/SUPP/6 could lead to severe penalties, including potential grounding of the affected hoists until the necessary modifications are completed. Furthermore, operators may face enforcement actions from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which could include fines or other sanctions. These measures are in place to enforce adherence to safety protocols and to prevent any potential hazards that could arise from non-compliance.