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/SWSA226/35 Aileron Static Rebalance - Incorporation 1/84
Applicability: All model SA226-T(B) with S/Nos. T(B) 394, 397, 400, 403, 405, 407 and 414. All
model SA226-TC with S/Nos. TCV 401, 413, 415, 418.
Document: Fairchild Swearingen SB No. 27-030.
Compliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 31 October 1981.
Background: The manufacturer has advised that safety of flight could be affected if the Ailerons are not rebalanced.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, address the safety of aircraft operation through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). This legislation was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to ensure the safe operation of civil aviation within Australia. The specific Airworthiness Directive AD/SWSA226/35 focuses on the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, providing guidelines for the aileron static rebalance to address safety issues identified by the manufacturer. The policy objective is to mitigate potential risks to flight safety by ensuring that the ailerons are rebalanced within specified parameters to maintain the airworthiness of these aircraft models. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enforcing body responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations.
This regulation was introduced to address a specific safety concern related to the aileron static rebalance on certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The manufacturer's advisory highlighted that failure to rebalance the ailerons could affect the safety of flight. The directive mandates compliance within 50 hours of time in service after 31 October 1981 for specified aircraft serial numbers. The overall goal of this regulation is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that these aircraft meet necessary safety standards, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of civil aviation operations in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates the application of AD/SWSA226/35 for certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to all model SA226-T(B) aircraft with specific serial numbers, namely T(B) 394, 397, 400, 403, 405, 407, and 414, as well as all model SA226-TC aircraft with serial numbers TCV 401, 413, 415, and 418. The directive necessitates compliance within 50 hours of time in service after 31 October 1981, as referenced in Fairchild Swearingen SB No. 27-030. This regulation is issued to ensure that the ailerons are statically rebalanced to prevent any potential compromise of flight safety, as advised by the manufacturer. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, applying across all states and territories within Australia, as it is a Commonwealth regulation. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of this directive; it applies universally to the specified aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction. The regulation may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes specific directives for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The relevant Airworthiness Directive (AD) in this case is AD/SWSA226/35, focusing on the aileron static rebalance, and it is applicable to certain Fairchild Swearingen models (section 1). This directive applies to all model SA226-T(B) aircraft with serial numbers T(B) 394, 397, 400, 403, 405, 407, and 414, as well as all model SA226-TC aircraft with serial numbers TCV 401, 413, 415, and 418. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 50 hours of time in service after 31 October 1981, as per the manufacturer's advisory that safety of flight could be compromised if the ailerons are not rebalanced (section 2).
Compliance with AD/SWSA226/35 requires that the aileron static rebalance as outlined in Fairchild Swearingen Service Bulletin No. 27-030 be incorporated into the affected aircraft models (section 3). This entails that the responsible parties must ensure that the specified serial numbers of the SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes undergo the necessary modifications or checks to ensure that the aileron static balance is correctly addressed. This will typically involve detailed inspections, adjustments, or replacements of parts as required by the service bulletin to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with the AD/SWSA226/35 could result in serious safety implications, potentially affecting the aircraft's ability to operate safely. While the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with specific Airworthiness Directives, general non-compliance with airworthiness regulations can lead to severe civil or criminal consequences. This includes potential fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety. The maximum penalties can vary widely, but they are designed to ensure strict adherence to safety standards to protect passengers, crew, and the general public.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforces these regulations, and operators found in breach of the airworthiness directives may face enforcement actions, including suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. This would effectively ground the aircraft until the necessary compliance measures are taken, underscoring the importance of adhering to the specified directives and ensuring that all affected aircraft are maintained to the required safety standards.