AD/SWSA226/77 - Engine Power Control Cable

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) are a comprehensive set of regulations enacted by the Parliament of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. The regulation specifically addresses the maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, and Part 39 focuses on airworthiness directives, which are mandatory orders issued by CASA to address safety issues in civil aircraft. The legislative instrument F2006B07220 targets the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, introducing a specific airworthiness directive (AD/SWSA226/77) concerning the engine power control cable to address recurring incidents of cable attaching hardware failure. This safety measure aims to prevent engine shut down due to such failures and mandates compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 25 April 1996, ensuring continued operational safety of these aircraft models. The policy objective of the AD/SWSA226/77 is to mitigate the risk of engine power control cable failures, which have been implicated in previous incidents of engine shut down. By mandating adherence to specific Fairchild Service Bulletins, the directive ensures that all relevant Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes are maintained in a safe and reliable condition. This proactive regulatory approach underscores CASA's commitment to maintaining high safety standards in the Australian civil aviation sector, aiming to protect both passengers and crew by addressing potential hazards before they can result in accidents.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, apply to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives concerning the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument mandates that certain models within this series, including the SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-TT, SA227-AT, SA227-AC, SA227-BC, SA227-CC, and SA227-DC, comply with specific service bulletins aimed at addressing a reported failure of the engine power control cable attaching hardware. Such failures have previously led to engine shutdowns, and the directive is intended to prevent such occurrences by requiring compliance with specified Fairchild Service Bulletins within 100 hours of time in service after 25 April 1996. This regulation is jurisdictional at the Commonwealth level and applies to any person or entity operating the specified aircraft models within Australia, ensuring adherence to the stipulated safety measures to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives that governs the maintenance and operation of certain aircraft models. This regulation, AD/SWSA226/77, pertains to Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, focusing on the engine power control cable (Section 1). The directive applies to a range of SA226 and SA227 models, including SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-TT, SA227-AT, SA227-AC, SA227-BC, SA227-CC, and SA227-DC. The directive requires actions to be taken in accordance with specific Fairchild Service Bulletins: 226-76-009, 227-76-004, or CC7-76-001, as applicable (Section 2). These actions are intended to address issues with cable attaching hardware that have led to failures, including one incident where engine shutdown occurred due to such a failure (Section 3). The entities governed by this Act are required to ensure compliance with the specified service bulletins. This includes adhering to the prescribed actions for the engine power control cable within 100 hours of time in service following 25 April 1996 (Section 4). This directive mandates that the relevant aircraft models must undergo specific maintenance procedures as outlined in the service bulletins to rectify potential safety issues. The regulations set forth clear timelines and actions to be taken to prevent any recurrence of cable failures, thereby enhancing the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft in question (Section 5). Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this directive may result in significant legal and operational consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions against entities that do not adhere to the specified maintenance actions and timelines. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of airworthiness directives can typically result in civil penalties, including fines, and criminal charges under Australian aviation law. Additionally, non-compliance can lead to operational restrictions, such as grounding of the affected aircraft until the required actions are taken and compliance is verified (Section 6).