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/SWSA226/75 Cockpit Floor FOD Barriers 3/96
Applicability: All serial numbers SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-AT, SA227-AC, SA227-BC, SA227-TT; SA227-CC S/n CC784 and CC790 to CC863, and SA227-DC S/n DC784 and DC790 to DC863.
Requirement: Action in accordance with either Fairchild SBs 226-53-012, 227-53-005, or CC7-53- 002 as applicable.
Note: FAA AD 95-24-11 refers.
Compliance: Within 600 hours time in service after 29 February 1996.
Background: This Directive requires the installation of foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit. This action follows incidents where objects fell through openings in the cockpit floor and jammed the elevator and the yoke.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through F2006B07218, addresses the issue of foreign object damage (FOD) in specific Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted by the Australian Government through the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the safety of civil aviation by preventing FOD that could lead to critical mechanical failures. The problem this regulation targets is the risk of objects entering the cockpit through floor openings, which can cause jamming of control mechanisms such as the elevator and yoke, leading to potential accidents. The policy objective is to mandate the installation of FOD barriers in the cockpit floorboards of specified aircraft models to mitigate these risks, ensuring compliance within 600 hours of time in service after 29 February 1996. This legislative instrument is part of a broader effort by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to uphold stringent safety standards in the aviation industry.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, mandates the implementation of Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety and compliance of aircraft within Australian airspace. Specifically, AD/SWSA226/75 addresses the installation of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) barriers in the cockpit floorboards of Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This directive applies to all specified serial numbers of the aircraft, including SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-AT, SA227-AC, SA227-BC, SA227-TT, and certain serial numbers of the SA227-CC and SA227-DC models. The requirement is to adhere to the specified Service Bulletins from Fairchild to mitigate risks associated with objects falling through cockpit floor openings and causing control malfunctions. Compliance must be achieved within 600 hours of time in service after 29 February 1996, as referenced by the Federal Aviation Administration's AD 95-24-11. This regulation extends its reach to all operators of the specified aircraft within Australian jurisdiction, ensuring adherence to stringent safety standards to prevent incidents of FOD-related hazards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. Within this schedule, AD/SWSA226/75 addresses the installation of cockpit floor foreign object damage (FOD) barriers. This directive applies to all serial numbers of the SA226 and SA227 models, except for the SA227-BC models with serial numbers CC784 and CC790 to CC863, and SA227-DC models with serial numbers DC784 and DC790 to DC863 (section 1). The directive mandates that action be taken in accordance with either Fairchild Service Bulletins 226-53-012, 227-53-005, or CC7-53-002, as applicable, and references FAA AD 95-24-11 for further information (section 2). Compliance with this directive is required within 600 hours of time in service after 29 February 1996 (section 3). The directive's background indicates that it was issued in response to incidents where objects fell through openings in the cockpit floor and caused jamming of the elevator and the yoke (section 4).
The obligations imposed by AD/SWSA226/75 are clear and specific. Operators of the affected Fairchild SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes must ensure that the cockpit floor FOD barriers are installed as per the specified service bulletins. This requirement is not only about installing physical barriers but also ensuring that these barriers are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's detailed instructions. Operators must also keep records of compliance, demonstrating that the installation was completed within the stipulated timeframe of 600 hours of time in service after 29 February 1996. Failure to adhere to these directives can lead to serious safety implications, as the directive was issued to prevent FOD incidents that could compromise the control of the aircraft.
Breaches of the AD/SWSA226/75 directive can result in significant legal consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce compliance with these airworthiness directives. If an operator fails to comply with this directive, CASA may take enforcement action, which can include issuing fines, imposing penalties, or even grounding the aircraft until the required modifications are made. The severity of the penalty will depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance. For example, if an operator knowingly operates an aircraft without the required FOD barriers, they could face substantial fines and potential criminal charges. The maximum penalties for such breaches are not specified in the directive itself but can be found in the broader regulatory framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, which include provisions for both civil and criminal penalties.