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/SWSA226/67 Horizontal Stabiliser Rear Spar 9/93 DM
Applicability: Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT and SA226-TC listed in Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) 226-55-005 (Revised 7 January 1991) and models SA227-TT, SA227-AT and SA227-AC listed in Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002 (Revised 13 October 1988).
Requirement: 1. Inspect the horizontal stabiliser rear spar near the outboard elevator hinge for cracks in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SB 226-55-005 or Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002, whichever is applicable. Use a fluorescent dye penetrant in accordance with CAO 108.10.
2. Modify the horizontal stabiliser rear spar outboard hinges in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SB 226-55-005 or Fairchild Aircraft SB 227-55-002, whichever is applicable.
Note: FAA AD 93-07-12 refers.
Compliance: 1. Inspect before 2500 flight hours or, unless previously inspected within the last 450 flight hours, inspect within 50 flight hours from 12 July 1993, whichever occurs later. Reinspect at intervals not to exceed 500 flight hours until modified as per Requirement 2.
2. Modify before 2200 flight hours from 12 July 1993.
Background: Elevator hinge loads have been causing cracks in the horizontal stabiliser rear spar. Failure of the spar could cause loss of the aircraft. This AD introduces a repetitive inspection to maintain safety in the short term until the hinge attachment is strengthened.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, are designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), includes provisions for the airworthiness of aircraft, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to address specific safety concerns. AD/SWSA226/67 is an example of such a directive, introduced to address the problem of cracks in the horizontal stabiliser rear spar of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This AD was enacted to prevent potential catastrophic failure of the spar, which could result in the loss of the aircraft. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of the specified aircraft models through a structured inspection and modification regime.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/67 applies to the specific models of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, namely the SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-TT, SA227-AT, and SA227-AC, as referenced in the relevant Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletins. This legislation is pertinent to the maintenance and operational standards of these aircraft models within the Australian jurisdiction and is enforced under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The directive mandates a comprehensive inspection of the horizontal stabiliser rear spar near the outboard elevator hinge to detect any cracks, utilising a fluorescent dye penetrant in line with Civil Aviation Order 108.10. Additionally, it requires modifications to the horizontal stabiliser rear spar outboard hinges as specified in the referenced service bulletins. Compliance with these requirements necessitates inspections at specific intervals and before reaching certain flight hour thresholds, ensuring ongoing airworthiness and mitigating the risk of catastrophic failure due to structural weakness.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 105, contains specific safety directives aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. In this instance, AD/SWSA226/67 pertains to Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, which include models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-TT, SA227-AT, and SA227-AC. This directive is critical for ensuring that these aircraft remain safe for operation by addressing known issues with the horizontal stabiliser rear spar.
The primary requirement of AD/SWSA226/67, as outlined in the regulation, involves a detailed inspection of the horizontal stabiliser rear spar near the outboard elevator hinge for cracks (section 1). This inspection must be conducted in accordance with the appropriate Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletins, either SB 226-55-005 or SB 227-55-002, depending on the specific model. Additionally, a fluorescent dye penetrant must be used during the inspection, in line with Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 108.10 (section 1). Furthermore, the directive mandates that the outboard hinges of the horizontal stabiliser rear spar be modified in accordance with the same service bulletins (section 2).
Compliance with AD/SWSA226/67 involves a timeline for inspections and modifications. The initial inspection must occur before the aircraft accumulates 2500 flight hours or, if no inspection has been performed in the last 450 flight hours, within 50 flight hours from 12 July 1993, whichever is later (section 1). Subsequent inspections must be conducted at intervals not exceeding 500 flight hours until the spar is modified as per the directive (section 1). The modification of the spar must be completed before the aircraft reaches 2200 flight hours from the effective date of 12 July 1993 (section 2).
Failure to comply with the AD/SWSA226/67 could result in significant safety risks. The regulation does not explicitly outline the penalties for non-compliance within its text, but general provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may apply. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which could include fines, operational restrictions, or even the grounding of the aircraft until the necessary actions are taken. Additionally, there could be severe civil or criminal consequences if non-compliance results in an accident or incident, leading to potential legal liabilities under aviation safety laws.