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/SWSA226/29 Nose Baggage Compartment Door - Modification
8/79
Applicability: All models SA-226-T with S/Nos. T201 to T291 except T276; All models SA-226- T(B) with S/Nos. T276 and T292 to T302; All models SA-226-AT with S/Nos.
AT001 to AT071; All models SA-226-TC with S/Nos. TC201 to TC286.
Requirement: To prevent the inside latches of nose baggage compartment door from becoming disengaged in flight by shifting baggage, accomplish the following:
Install striker plates on the nose baggage door frames and covers over the inside door latches in accordance with Swearingen Aviation Corporation SB No. SB 52-007 revised 29 May, 79.
Note: FAA AD 79-13-07 Amendment 39-3503 prescribes this modification.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 28 July 1979.
Background: A number of accidents have been caused to overseas aeroplanes by forward baggage locker doors opening during take-off.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. A notable part of these regulations, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. One such directive, AD/SWSA226/29, was introduced to address a safety issue concerning Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The problem this directive aimed to resolve was the frequent disengaging of nose baggage compartment door latches in flight, which could potentially cause accidents. The directive mandates the installation of striker plates on the nose baggage door frames and covers over the inside door latches to prevent this issue, as per Swearingen Aviation Corporation SB No. SB 52-007 revised 29 May, 79, and FAA AD 79-13-07 Amendment 39-3503. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours time in service after 28 July 1979, in response to accidents caused by similar incidents overseas.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, apply to a broad range of entities and individuals involved in civil aviation within Australia, including aircraft operators, maintenance personnel, and pilots. Specifically, this particular airworthiness directive applies to certain models of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, namely SA-226-T with serial numbers ranging from T201 to T291 (excluding T276), SA-226-T(B) with serial numbers T276 and T292 to T302, SA-226-AT with serial numbers AT001 to AT071, and SA-226-TC with serial numbers TC201 to TC286. The directive mandates that modifications be made to the nose baggage compartment door to prevent the inside latches from becoming disengaged during flight, thereby mitigating the risk of accidents caused by shifting baggage. The requirement involves installing striker plates on the nose baggage door frames and covers over the inside door latches in accordance with Swearingen Aviation Corporation Service Bulletin No. SB 52-007, revised on 29 May 1979. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with modifications to be accomplished within 100 hours of the aeroplanes' time in service after 28 July 1979. This legislative instrument extends the regulatory framework established under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, ensuring safety standards are met across the Commonwealth.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety requirements for certain models of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/SWSA226/29. This regulation mandates modifications to the nose baggage compartment door to prevent the inside latches from becoming disengaged due to shifting baggage during flight. The requirement applies to specific serial numbers of SA-226-T, SA-226-T(B), SA-226-AT, and SA-226-TC models. The directive stipulates that striker plates must be installed on the nose baggage door frames and covers over the inside door latches, as detailed in Swearingen Aviation Corporation Service Bulletin No. SB 52-007, revised 29 May 1979. This directive is also referenced in FAA AD 79-13-07 Amendment 39-3503.
The Civil Aviation Regulations impose specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft models. They must ensure that the required modifications are carried out within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 28 July 1979. This compliance period is critical to address the safety issue identified, which has caused accidents in other aircraft where the forward baggage locker doors opened during take-off. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant safety risks.
Failure to adhere to the provisions of AD/SWSA226/29 can result in both civil and criminal consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations. Civil penalties may include fines up to a maximum of $500,000 for corporations and $100,000 for individuals. Additionally, the operation of a non-compliant aircraft could lead to serious safety incidents, potentially resulting in criminal charges for negligence. The gravity of such non-compliance cannot be overstated, given the potential for catastrophic outcomes if the specified safety modifications are not implemented.