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
AD/SWSA226/27 Wing Main Spar - Inspection for Manufacturing Defects
6/79
Applicability: Merlin III, Model SA226-T; S/N 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 205E, 206, 207, 208, 209,
210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220. Merlin IV, Model SA226-AT S/N
AT002, 003, 004, 006, 007, Metro, Model SA226-TC: S/N TC201, 202, 202E.
Requirement: 1. Radiographically inspect the wing main spar lower cap for double-drilled figure- of-eight holes or other defects in the W.S. 99 area in accordance with Swearingen SB 57-015. An alternative of providing access to the area and removing fasteners for visual inspection is acceptable.
2. Inspect the spar lower cap for similar defects in the WS.81 area to a technique approved by the Secretary. It may be necessary to introduce access doors in the side of the nacelle to facilitate the placement of radiographic film.
Note: All radiographic film must be forwarded to the Secretary for review of the operator’s assessment before being forwarded to the manufacturer.
3. If, in the opinion of the Secretary, defective spars are found, re-inspect for the presence of fatigue cracking until a repair scheme acceptable to the Secretary is installed.
Note: Swearingen Drawing 27K 310007, with additional cleaning- up of hole and the use of titanium fasteners where practicable, is endorsed as a suitable repair scheme for WS.99 and could be adapted for WS.81.
Compliance: For Paras. 1 and 2: Within 300 hours time in service after 30 June 1979 unless previously accomplished.
or Para. 3 - At intervals not exceeding 300 hours until repaired, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary.
Background: Manufacturing defects have been found in three Australian and one New Guinea operated Swearingen aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include specific Airworthiness Directives (ADs) designed to address safety issues in civil aviation. One such AD is AD/SWSA226/27, issued in 1979 to address manufacturing defects in Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The policy objective behind AD/SWSA226/27 was to ensure the airworthiness of these specific aircraft models by mandating inspections and, if necessary, repairs to the wing main spar lower cap to prevent fatigue cracking and other defects that could compromise safety.
The AD specifically applies to certain Merlin III, Merlin IV, and Metro models of the Swearingen SA226 series, requiring radiographic inspections for double-drilled figure-of-eight holes or other defects in designated areas of the wing main spar. The directive also allows for alternative visual inspections if radiographic inspection is not feasible. CASA mandates these inspections within specific timeframes to ensure compliance and maintain the safety standards of these aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes identified in the AD/SWSA226/27 Airworthiness Directive. The directive mandates inspections and corrective actions for specific models of these aircraft, namely the Merlin III, Merlin IV, and Metro models, which are serially numbered within the directive. The scope of the directive is geographically extensive, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and includes any operators of the specified aircraft within the jurisdiction. The directive requires detailed inspections for manufacturing defects in the wing main spar lower cap, specifically in the WS.99 and WS.81 areas, and mandates remedial actions if such defects are found. Compliance with these directives is overseen by the Secretary of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, who has the authority to determine intervals for inspections and repairs. The requirement for radiographic inspections and the need to submit film to the Secretary for review ensures a standardised approach to defect identification and repair across all operators.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, includes an airworthiness directive (AD) concerning the inspection of wing main spars for manufacturing defects in Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. Specifically, AD/SWSA226/27 (Paragraph 6/79) applies to certain Merlin III, Merlin IV, and Metro models, identified by their serial numbers (s/n). The directive requires operators to inspect the wing main spar lower caps in two specific areas, W.S. 99 and W.S. 81, for double-drilled figure-of-eight holes or other defects. This can be done either through radiographic inspection in accordance with Swearingen SB 57-015 or, alternatively, by providing access to the area and removing fasteners for visual inspection (Paragraph 1). Additionally, operators must inspect the spar lower cap in the WS.81 area using a technique approved by the Secretary, potentially requiring the installation of access doors in the side of the nacelle to facilitate the radiographic inspection (Paragraph 2). If the Secretary identifies defective spars, operators must re-inspect for fatigue cracking until a repair scheme acceptable to the Secretary is implemented (Paragraph 3).
Operators governed by this directive must adhere to several obligations. They must ensure the radiographic inspection or visual inspection is conducted within 300 hours of time in service after 30 June 1979, unless the inspection has already been completed. If the Secretary identifies defective spars, further inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 300 hours until a satisfactory repair scheme is installed. Furthermore, all radiographic film must be forwarded to the Secretary for review of the operator’s assessment before being sent to the manufacturer. This oversight ensures that the assessments and repairs align with the standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in this airworthiness directive may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the legislative instrument, but generally, breaches of airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. These actions may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory penalties. The seriousness of the breach and its potential impact on aviation safety will determine the exact nature and severity of the consequences. It is essential for operators to adhere to the inspection and repair requirements to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.