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/SWSA226/55 Landing Gear Control Assembly 10/87 DM
Applicability: Model SA-226-T all S/No Model SA-226-T(B) all except S/No. T-276, and S/Nos. T- 283 through T-297. Model SA-226-AT all except S/No. AT-062E through H AT-069. Model SA-226-TC all except S/No. TC-247 through TC-279.
Requirement: 1. Modify the landing gear selector lever in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 226-32-048.
2. Visually inspect the sides and end of the centre pedestal for installation of brackets, holders, or any sort of provision for the storage of maps, charts, and approach charts, and remove any such devices for which approval cannot be demonstrated.
Note: FAA AD 87-13-11 Amendment 39-5668 refers.
Compliance: Prior to 1 December 1987.
Background: FAA investigations into accidents involving inadvertent landing gear actuation revealed that the landing gear selector lever detents are subject to wear, & once worn, the selector lever can easily be displaced from the selected position. The FAA found that storage provisions to the sides of the centre pedestal are not part of the approved Fairchild type design, and when used for storage of charts, maps, etc, block the clear view of pedestal controls and switches, and can also cause the inadvertent actuation of various controls and switches on the pedestal.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, are a comprehensive set of regulations designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Part 39, specifically addressing airworthiness directives, includes detailed safety requirements for various aircraft models. One such directive, AD/SWSA226/55, pertains to the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes and specifically targets issues related to the landing gear control assembly. This directive was introduced to address problems identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, such as the inadvertent actuation of landing gear due to wear on the selector lever detents, and the obstruction of controls by improperly installed storage devices in the centre pedestal area. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to mitigate safety risks and ensure the highest standards of airworthiness are maintained in Australian civil aviation.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates the modification of the landing gear control assembly for certain Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to the SA-226-T model excluding serial numbers T-276 and T-283 through T-297, the SA-226-AT model excluding serial numbers AT-062E through H AT-069, and the SA-226-TC model excluding serial numbers TC-247 through TC-279. The directive requires operators to modify the landing gear selector lever in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 226-32-048, and to conduct a visual inspection of the sides and end of the centre pedestal to ensure there are no unauthorised brackets, holders, or devices for storing maps, charts, and approach charts, removing any found that lack approval. Compliance with these modifications must be achieved prior to 1 December 1987, in response to findings by the Federal Aviation Administration that wear on the landing gear selector lever detents can lead to inadvertent landing gear actuation, and that unauthorised storage devices obstruct the view of pedestal controls and switches, potentially causing further inadvertent control actuation.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, outline the requirements and obligations for ensuring the airworthiness of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes, particularly with respect to the landing gear control assembly. This directive, AD/SWSA226/55, applies to certain models and serial numbers of these aircraft (subsection 10/87 DMApplicability). The primary requirement is the modification of the landing gear selector lever as detailed in Fairchild Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 226-32-048 (subsection 1(a)). This modification is crucial to prevent inadvertent landing gear actuation, which can occur due to wear on the detents of the selector lever.
Additionally, the regulation mandates a visual inspection of the sides and end of the centre pedestal to ensure that no brackets, holders, or any other devices used for the storage of maps, charts, and approach charts are installed (subsection 1(b)). Any such devices that cannot be demonstrated to have approval must be removed. This inspection aims to prevent any obstructions that could block the clear view of pedestal controls and switches, or cause inadvertent actuation of controls and switches on the pedestal.
The obligations under this Act require operators and owners of the specified aircraft models to ensure compliance with these directives. Compliance must be achieved prior to 1 December 1987 (subsection Compliance). This involves both the modification of the landing gear selector lever and the removal of any unapproved storage devices from the specified areas of the aircraft. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in serious safety implications and potential regulatory action.
The consequences of non-compliance with these airworthiness directives are significant. Breaches of these provisions may result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of airworthiness directives can typically lead to civil penalties, including fines, and in severe cases, criminal charges against the operators or owners of the aircraft. The severity of penalties can depend on the extent of non-compliance and the potential safety risks involved.