AD/SWSA226/36 Amdt 2 - Elevator Return Spring And Attachment

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, address various safety aspects of civil aviation in Australia, including the maintenance and inspection of aircraft. One particular aspect is covered by PART 39 - 105, which outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives for specific aircraft models. Among these is the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, for which AD/SWSA226/36 Amendment 2 pertains. This directive was enacted to address the identified issue of rapid wear in the elevator return spring and attachment bolts, which can compromise the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. The regulation is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and aims to ensure that specified parts are inspected and maintained according to the outlined requirements, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. The problem of rapid wear was identified through operational feedback and historical data, leading to the need for more stringent and frequent inspections and modifications to mitigate potential safety risks.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, applies to the maintenance and operation of certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes within Australia and its territories. This specific Airworthiness Directive applies to all serial numbers of the SA226-AT and SA226-TC models, as well as specific serial numbers within the SA227-AC and SA227-AT models. The directive mandates a visual inspection of the elevator return spring and its attachments, with a requirement to replace any damaged parts before further flight and to relocate the elevator return spring as specified in the relevant service bulletins. The directive applies within 25 hours of service after July 22, 1993, unless already complied with in the last 275 hours, and then at intervals not exceeding 300 hours until modified as per Requirement 2, which must be completed within 2,200 hours of service after July 22, 1993. The directive references FAA AD 93-09-05 Amdt 39-8571 and aims to address the rapid wear of elevator return springs and attachment bolts. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory for the specified aircraft within Australian jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, include a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft types, including the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/SWSA226/36 Amendment 2, pertains to the elevator return spring and its attachment (Section 1). This directive applies to all serial numbers of the SA226-AT and SA226-TC models, as well as specific serial numbers of the SA227-AC and SA227-AT models (Section 2). The directive mandates that the elevator return spring, attachment bolts, spacers, and clevis must be visually inspected for any signs of damage such as deterioration, wear, or breakage (Section 1). If any damage is found, the affected part must be replaced with a new one before further flight. Additionally, the elevator return spring must be relocated following the instructions provided in Fairchild Service Bulletins 226-27-032 or 227-27-002, as applicable (Section 1). Compliance with this directive requires that these inspections and modifications occur within 25 hours of time in service after 22 July 1993, unless already completed within the last 275 hours of time in service. Further inspections must then be carried out at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service until the aircraft is modified in accordance with Requirement 2 (Section 3). Furthermore, if not already done, these actions must also be completed within 2,200 hours of time in service after 22 July 1993 (Section 3). Entities governed by this legislation, primarily aircraft operators and maintenance service providers, are obligated to ensure that these inspections and modifications are carried out as per the stipulated timelines and instructions. They must maintain records of these activities to demonstrate compliance with the directive (Section 4). Failure to adhere to the requirements of this airworthiness directive may result in serious safety issues, as the elevator return spring and its attachments are critical for the proper functioning of the aircraft's control surfaces. Breaching the provisions of this directive can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance may result in penalties for both civil and criminal offences. Civil penalties can include fines up to a substantial amount, while criminal penalties can result in imprisonment for individuals responsible for the oversight or maintenance of the aircraft. These penalties underscore the importance of strict adherence to the airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board (Section 5).