AD/SWSA226/1 - Frame Splices - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, contain the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/SWSA226/1 concerning Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to ensure the airworthiness and safety of specific models of aircraft, particularly focusing on the structural integrity of the frame splices in the SA226T series with serial numbers T201 to T210. The policy objective behind this directive is to mandate regular inspections to prevent potential structural failures, thereby maintaining the safety standards required by CASA. The regulations were established by the Australian Parliament to fill a critical gap in ensuring that the maintenance and inspection of these aircraft meet stringent safety requirements, thereby protecting passengers and crew. This legislative instrument, AD/SWSA226/1, mandates that compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date of 30 July 1971. The directive references Swearingen SB 53-10-3003 as the document to be followed for compliance purposes. The overarching goal is to enforce rigorous safety checks on specific aircraft models to mitigate any risk of structural failure, ensuring the continued safety of civil aviation in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, apply to the inspection of frame splices on Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This applies to model SA226T aircraft with serial numbers T201 to T210, as detailed in the Swearingen SB 53-10-3003 document. The requirement is for compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 30 July 1971, and it is the responsibility of the airworthiness authority to ensure adherence to this directive. The regulation falls under the purview of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and applies nationally across Australia, with no stated exclusions or exemptions. The regulation may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under Part 39 - 105, which governs the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes, establish specific requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft models. Section 39.105 focuses on AD/SWSA226/1, which mandates inspections of frame splices on model SA226T with serial numbers T201 to T210. The directive references Swearingen SB 53-10-3003 as the document detailing the compliance requirements. The obligations imposed by this directive include a mandatory inspection of the specified frame splices on the SA226T models within a specific timeframe. According to Section 39.105, this inspection must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after the effective date of the directive, which is 30 July 1971. This requirement ensures that any potential issues with the frame splices are identified and addressed promptly to maintain the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the airworthiness directive AD/SWSA226/1 can result in significant legal consequences. Section 39.105 stipulates that non-compliance with the specified inspection requirements may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The potential penalties for non-compliance can include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and possible criminal charges against the aircraft operator or owner. The exact penalties and consequences are detailed under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which provides for both civil and criminal sanctions depending on the severity of the breach.