AD/SWSA226/16 - Aileron Balance Weight Attachment Bolts - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, provide comprehensive guidelines for ensuring the safety of aviation in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations aim to address gaps and problems in ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft, thereby protecting public safety and maintaining high standards in the aviation industry. Specifically, the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives within these regulations targets specific aircraft models to mitigate identified safety risks. For instance, the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes are subject to specific directives, such as AD/SWSA226/16, which mandates the inspection of aileron balance weight attachment bolts. This directive aims to ensure continued compliance with safety standards by requiring inspections within 100 hours of time in service after a specified date, as outlined in the referenced Swearingen documents. These regulations are pivotal in enforcing policy objectives that prioritise safety and reliability in civil aviation. By setting forth detailed directives, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide clear operational requirements and compliance timelines, ensuring that aircraft remain in a safe and airworthy condition. The policy objective is to prevent potential safety hazards through proactive inspections and maintenance, thereby enhancing the overall safety of Australian airspace.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, which includes directives for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all model SA226TC aircraft with serial numbers ranging from TC201 to TC207, all model SA226T aircraft with serial numbers from T-201 to T-241, and all model SA226AT aircraft with serial numbers from AT-001 to AT-014. The regulations mandate that compliance with airworthiness directives, such as the inspection of aileron balance weight attachment bolts, be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1974, as detailed in the Swearingen SB 27-10-2052, -3057, and -4057 documents. The scope of this Act is confined to the specified models and serial numbers of the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes within the Australian jurisdiction, and no exclusions or exemptions are stated within the provided text. The application of these regulations may also extend through subordinate instruments that further detail compliance requirements and enforcement mechanisms.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically AD/SWSA226/16, mandate the inspection of aileron balance weight attachment bolts on Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The regulation applies to specific models: SA226TC with serial numbers TC201 to TC207, SA226T with serial numbers T-201 to T-241, and SA226AT with serial numbers AT-001 to AT-014. The inspection must comply with Swearingen SB 27-10-2052, -3057, and -4057 documentation and must be carried out within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1974. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act are specific to the inspection and maintenance of aileron balance weight attachment bolts. Owners or operators of the specified aircraft models must ensure that these inspections are conducted in accordance with the provided documentation. This includes verifying the integrity of the bolts, which are critical to the safe operation of the aircraft. The requirement is clear that the inspection must be completed within 100 hours of time in service following the date of 31 January 1974, underscoring the importance of timely maintenance to ensure ongoing airworthiness. Failure to comply with the specified inspection requirements can result in serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could result in severe civil or criminal penalties. The specific penalties are not detailed within this excerpt, but typically, breaches of civil aviation safety regulations can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment for those responsible. The severity of the consequences highlights the critical nature of adhering to the mandated inspection schedules and procedures to maintain the safety and compliance of the aircraft in question.