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/SWSA226/38
Amdt 1
Elevator Return Spring Location - Modification
1/82
Applicability: 1. All model SA-226-AT with S/Nos. AT-001 to AT-999. All model SA-226-TC with S/Nos. TC-201 to TC-999.
2. All model SA-227-AT with S/Nos. AT-423 to AT-469. All model SA-227-AC with S/Nos. AC-420 to AC-473.
Document: 1. Fairchild Swearingen SB No. 27-032.
2. Fairchild Swearingen SB No. 27-002.
Note: FAA AD 81-ASW-39 Amdt. 39-4238 refers.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, modify before 1 March 1982.
Background: Relocation of the elevator return spring is necessary to prevent jamming of the elevator control in the event of inflight failure of the spring. This amendment extends applicability by aircraft models and S/Nos.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, establish comprehensive rules governing civil aviation safety. One part of these regulations, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives that ensure the ongoing safety of aircraft. This legislative instrument, F2006B07178, addresses a specific safety concern with the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The objective of this directive is to mandate a modification to the elevator return spring location to prevent potential jamming of the elevator control in the event of an inflight spring failure, enhancing overall flight safety. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for certain serial numbers of the specified aircraft models, with a compliance deadline set for 1 March 1982.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, specifically addresses the airworthiness of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes through Airworthiness Directive AD/SWSA226/38 Amendment 1, focusing on the modification of the elevator return spring location. This directive applies to specific serial numbers of the SA-226-AT, SA-226-TC, SA-227-AT, and SA-227-AC models, as delineated in the document. The regulation mandates that the elevator return spring be relocated to prevent potential jamming of the elevator control during inflight operation, ensuring safety and compliance with civil aviation standards. This modification must be completed by 1 March 1982 for all applicable aircraft, as referenced by FAA AD 81-ASW-39 Amendment 39-4238. The directive is part of a broader framework managed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, ensuring that the specified modifications are implemented across the designated aircraft models within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Within this, AD/SWSA226/38 Amendment 1 addresses modifications to the elevator return spring location for certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The directive applies to all model SA-226-AT with serial numbers AT-001 to AT-999, SA-226-TC with serial numbers TC-201 to TC-999, SA-227-AT with serial numbers AT-423 to AT-469, and SA-227-AC with serial numbers AC-420 to AC-473 (section 1). Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be completed before 1 March 1982, unless already accomplished. The modifications are to be carried out in accordance with the Fairchild Swearingen Service Bulletins No. 27-032 and 27-002 (section 1).
The obligations imposed by this directive are clear: all specified aircraft must undergo the modification of the elevator return spring to prevent potential jamming of the elevator control during flight due to a spring failure. This modification is essential to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. The directive references FAA AD 81-ASW-39 Amendment 39-4238, indicating that it aligns with or is based on comparable United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Compliance is a legal requirement under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enforced by CASA.
Failure to comply with the AD/SWSA226/38 Amendment 1 directive may result in serious consequences. Aircraft that do not meet the specified modifications could be deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are completed. Non-compliance could also result in administrative, civil, or even criminal penalties under Australian law. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in this directive but could include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and related regulations. The maximum penalties for such breaches can be substantial, reflecting the high importance of aviation safety.