COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/26 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/SWSA226/26
Amdt 1
Landing Gear Actuator Rod End 2/2000
Applicability: Model Serial Number
SA226-T T201 through T275 and T277 through T291 SA226-T(B) T(B)276 and T(B)292 through T(B)417 SA226-AT AT001 through AT074
SA226-TC TC201 through TC396, TC398 through TC413, TC418,
and TC419
Requirement: Replace any landing gear actuator rod end that is not part number VTA00350 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number) with one that incorporates this part number. Accomplish this replacement in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Alert Service Bulletin SB A32-014, Revised January 26 1999.
Note: FAA AD 99-21-05 Amdt 39-11348 refers.
Compliance: Within 500 hours time in service after 24 February 2000, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 24 February 2000.
Background: Cracks were found on landing gear actuator rod ends that incorporate grease fittings.
Repetitive inspections and rod end replacement with an improved part is required.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which requires replacement of the rod ends that were replaced in accordance with the original issue of this Directive. The FAA received reports of failures of the previously replaced rod ends, and as a result, the manufacturer has re-designed the landing gear rod ends.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 January 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 January 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Australian Parliament, form the legislative framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. One specific instrument within this regulatory system is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/26 Amendment 1, which was enacted on 24 February 2000. This AD addresses the identified safety issue of cracks found on the landing gear actuator rod ends of certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The directive mandates the replacement of any landing gear actuator rod end that does not incorporate the specified part number VTA00350 (or an FAA-approved equivalent) with one that includes this part number, following the instructions in Fairchild Aircraft Alert Service Bulletin SB A32-014, Revised January 26, 1999. This action is necessary to correct the unsafe condition identified and must be completed within 500 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date, unless already accomplished. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft by mitigating the risk of failure due to cracked rod ends.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies to specific models and serial numbers of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, which include the SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, and SA226-TC models, within the specified serial number ranges. This legislation is concerned with the mandatory replacement of landing gear actuator rod ends that do not meet a specified part number (VTA00350 or its FAA-approved equivalent) with a rod end that incorporates this part number. The directive necessitates compliance with the instructions outlined in Fairchild Aircraft Alert Service Bulletin SB A32-014, Revised January 26, 1999, and requires this replacement to be carried out within 500 hours of time in service after 24 February 2000, unless already completed. The AD is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the safety measures outlined are uniformly enforced to mitigate risks associated with the identified unsafe condition of the landing gear actuator rod ends.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, establish Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for ensuring aircraft safety. One such AD, AD/SWSA226/26, pertains to the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive mandates that any landing gear actuator rod end not bearing part number VTA00350 (or an FAA-approved equivalent) must be replaced with one that does bear this part number. This replacement is to be performed in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Alert Service Bulletin SB A32-014, Revised January 26, 1999. The directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the SA226 and SA227 series, including the SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, and SA226-TC, within the specified serial number ranges.
The obligations imposed by this AD are clear and precise. Aircraft operators must ensure that the specified replacement is carried out on their aircraft within 500 hours of time in service after the AD's effective date of 24 February 2000, unless the replacement has already been completed. Compliance with this requirement is essential to address the identified safety issue, which involves cracks found on landing gear actuator rod ends that incorporate grease fittings. The directive emphasises the importance of repetitive inspections and timely replacement of these rod ends with the improved part to prevent potential failures.
Failure to comply with the AD/SWSA226/26 could result in serious safety implications, as the directive is issued to correct an unsafe condition. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate has revoked the previous AD (AD/SWSA226/26) and issued this amendment in response to reports of failures of previously replaced rod ends, indicating that non-compliance could lead to significant safety risks. The directive is enforced to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft, and any breaches of the AD could potentially result in severe civil or criminal consequences, including penalties and sanctions as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The exact penalties are not specified in the text, but they could include fines and enforcement actions to ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.