Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, are a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation in the country. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations includes detailed airworthiness directives aimed at maintaining the safety standards of aircraft. The legislation was introduced to address critical safety concerns, ensuring that aircraft meet the required safety standards to protect passengers, crew, and the general public. The policy objective is to mitigate risks and enhance the safety of civil aviation through the enforcement of these directives. One such directive, AD/SWSA226/34, pertains to the inspection of the fuselage skin and aft belly fairing for Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to specific models and serial numbers of the aircraft, as identified in the document. The directive mandates that inspections must be conducted unless already completed, within 250 hours of time in service after 30 September 1981, to prevent potential chafing issues that may arise from contact between the aft belly fairing stringers and the fuselage. The aim is to ensure that any such issues are identified and addressed promptly, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) issuance of airworthiness directives, with this particular directive addressing the inspection of the fuselage skin and aft belly fairing of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The directive applies to all model SA226T aircraft with serial numbers ranging from T201 to T275 and T277 to T291, all model SA226AT aircraft with serial numbers from AT001 to AT074, and all model SA226TC aircraft with serial numbers from TC201 to TC407. The requirement to conduct the inspection is mandatory unless it has already been completed, and must be undertaken within 250 hours of time in service following 30 September 1981. The directive references Swearingen Service Bulletin No. 53-006 and FAA AD 81-15-01, emphasising the necessity of addressing potential chafing issues arising from contact between the aft belly fairing stringers and the fuselage. This regulation applies within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by CASA, ensuring that the specified aircraft meet the required safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandate specific airworthiness directives for certain aircraft models. One such directive, AD/SWSA226/34, pertains to the inspection of the fuselage skin and aft belly fairing of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to all SA226T models with serial numbers ranging from T201 to T275 and T277 to T291, all SA226AT models with serial numbers from AT001 to AT074, and all SA226TC models with serial numbers from TC201 to TC407 (Regulation 39.105.005). The directive requires that these inspections be conducted unless they have already been completed. The compliance timeline for these inspections is set at 250 hours of time in service after 30 September 1981 (Regulation 39.105.007). Entities governed by these regulations must ensure that the specified inspections are carried out meticulously, as these checks are critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft. The inspections are aimed at identifying and addressing potential chafing issues on the lower fuselage skin, which can occur due to contact between the aft belly fairing stringers and the fuselage. These inspections must be performed in accordance with the Swearingen SB No. 53-006 and FAA AD 81-15-01 references provided in the directive (Regulation 39.105.009). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in serious safety implications, thereby imposing a significant obligation on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft to adhere strictly to the stipulated inspection protocols. In the event of non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and the specific airworthiness directives, there are significant legal consequences. The breach of these regulations can lead to civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and intent behind the non-compliance. For instance, wilful or negligent disregard of the inspection requirements may result in substantial fines, imprisonment, or both. The exact penalties are determined by the specific provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and can vary based on the circumstances of the offence (Regulation 39.105.010). Operators and owners must, therefore, ensure strict adherence to the airworthiness directives to avoid these severe consequences.