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/SWSA226/52 Elevator Gust Lock 7/86 DM
Applicability: All models SA-226 and SA-227 referenced in the Requirement Documents. Requirement: Action in accordance with:
- Fairchild Aircraft Corporation S.B. 226-27-041 Revised 18 February 1986, or
2. Fairchild Aircraft Corporation S.B. 227-27-016 Revised 18 February 1986.
Note: FAA AD 86-10-08 Amdt 39-5315 refers.
Compliance: Prior to 31 July 1986.
Background: There have been several reports overseas of in-flight engagements of the elevator gustlock. The gustlock plunger assembly is subject to freezing or corrosion due to exposure to the environment. This condition may cause the lock to stick in the intermediate engage position and result in uncommanded in-flight engagement. This Directive provides for an alternate method of gust locking the elevator.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include a legislative instrument designated F2006B07193, which pertains to airworthiness directives for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to address the problem of elevator gust locks sticking in an intermediate position, leading to uncommanded in-flight engagements, due to freezing or corrosion. The instrument was introduced to ensure the safety of these aircraft by requiring compliance with specific service bulletins issued by the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation, providing an alternate method for gust locking the elevator. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of in-flight incidents caused by faulty elevator gust locks, thereby enhancing the overall safety standards in civil aviation as overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The authority to enact this regulation is vested in the Parliament of Australia, ensuring adherence to stringent safety protocols in the aviation sector.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to the requirements for airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This legislation applies to all operators of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, mandating compliance with specific airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of these aircraft in Australian airspace. The scope of the directive extends to ensuring that the elevator gust lock mechanism is addressed to prevent in-flight engagements caused by freezing or corrosion of the gustlock plunger assembly. The directive requires compliance with either Fairchild Aircraft Corporation S.B. 226-27-041 or S.B. 227-27-016, which provide an alternate method of gust locking the elevator. This regulatory requirement is in response to reported incidents of uncommanded in-flight engagements overseas, thereby necessitating adherence to the specified bulletins and amendments to prevent similar occurrences in Australian-registered aircraft. The directive mandates that these modifications must be completed prior to 31 July 1986, ensuring that all relevant aircraft meet the safety standards set forth by CASA.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates compliance with the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). In this context, AD/SWSA226/52 pertains to the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, focusing on the elevator gust lock (s 1). The directive requires compliance with either Fairchild Aircraft Corporation S.B. 226-27-041 Revised 18 February 1986 or S.B. 227-27-016 Revised 18 February 1986, as referenced in FAA AD 86-10-08 Amdt 39-5315 (s 2). The primary objective is to address reports of in-flight engagements of the elevator gust lock, which may result from freezing or corrosion of the gust lock plunger assembly, potentially causing it to stick in an intermediate engage position (s 2).
The Act imposes obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the elevator gust lock is modified or replaced according to the specifications provided in the referenced service bulletins. This involves inspecting the current gust lock assembly and implementing the recommended modifications to prevent uncommanded in-flight engagement (s 2). Compliance must be achieved before the specified deadline of 31 July 1986, as mandated by the directive (s 3).
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/SWSA226/52 can result in severe consequences. The Act outlines that non-compliance may lead to penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Specifically, the Act can impose fines for breaches of safety regulations, with the maximum penalty potentially amounting to significant financial sanctions. Additionally, the operation of a non-compliant aircraft could result in further enforcement actions, including grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved, thereby impacting the safety and operational readiness of the aircraft (s 4). Furthermore, in cases where non-compliance leads to accidents or incidents, the operator may face both criminal and civil liabilities, including prosecution under the criminal code and potential lawsuits from affected parties (s 4).