AD/SWSA226/41 - Flight Control, Control Column - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended by the Legislative Instrument F2006B07181, address a specific issue concerning the airworthiness of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia and was introduced to mitigate the risk of control column cable pulley system failures, which had led to a loss of lateral control in certain models of these aircraft. The policy objective is to ensure that all affected aircraft comply with the specified modifications within a defined timeframe to enhance flight safety. The relevant authority for these regulations is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which mandates compliance to safeguard against the identified hazard.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/SWSA226/41, pertains to the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, focusing on the flight control system and the control column. This directive applies to all model SA226-T with serial numbers ranging from T201 to T290, model SA226-AT with serial numbers from AT001 to AT066, and model SA226-TC with serial numbers from TC201 to TC225. The directive mandates compliance within 300 hours of time in service after 28 February 1982, addressing the reported failure of the control column cable pulley system which has led to loss of lateral control. This requirement is supported by Swearingen SB27-022 and references FAA AD 81-26-04 Amendment 39-4284. The application of this directive is firmly within the jurisdictional reach of the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is enforced through the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. This legislation applies to specific aircraft models and their respective serial numbers, ensuring the safety and reliability of these aircraft in Australian airspace.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes an Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertaining to Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. The AD in question, AD/SWSA226/41, concerns the modification of the flight control, control column (Section 2). This directive applies to all model SA226-T with serial numbers (S/N) T201 to T290, all model SA226-AT with S/N AT001 to AT066, and all model SA226-TC with S/N TC201 to TC225. Compliance with this directive is mandated within 300 hours of time in service after 28 February 1982, as per the documentation Swearingen SB27-022, which references FAA AD 81-26-04 Amendment 39-4284 (Section 2). The primary obligation under this directive is the modification of the control column cable pulley system to prevent any failure that could lead to a loss of lateral control, as reported overseas (Section 2). This requirement is crucial for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft models. The directive is a direct response to identified safety concerns, necessitating that the specified modifications be carried out to mitigate the risk of control failures. Non-compliance with the Airworthiness Directive can lead to serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce this directive, and failure to adhere to the specified requirements can result in civil or criminal penalties. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, the potential consequences of non-compliance could include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made. The seriousness of these outcomes underscores the importance of adhering to the directive to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.