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
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/85 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
AD/SWSA226/85
Amdt 1
Flight Envelope Restriction 4/2000 DM
Applicability: All Fairchild SA226 and Fairchild SA227 aircraft fitted with Barber-Colman Pitch Trim Actuator Part Number 27-19008-001/-004 or Part Number 27-19008-002/-005.
Note: This includes all Barber-Colman Pitch Trim actuators identified above, irrespective of whether the maintenance actions on those actuators listed in AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 3 have been carried out.
Requirement: Revise the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) by incorporating the following restrictions into the Limitations Section:
- The Maximum Indicated Airspeed is reduced to the published Va (Manoeuvring Indicated Airspeed) for the aircraft.
b. The minimum flight crew requirement for all affected aircraft is two pilots. This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this Directive into the AFM.
This Directive may be actioned and signed by a pilot having at least a private pilots licence. The content of this Directive is to bring it to the attention of all pilots of affected aircraft.
Note: FAA AD 98-19-15R1 refers.
Compliance: Before further flight after 14 September 1998; or in the case of aircraft with actuators P/Nos 27-19008-004 and/or -005 installed, before further flight after 23 February 2000.
Installation of Simmonds-Precision Actuators Part Numbers DL5040M5, DL5040M6, or DL5040M8; or Barber Coleman actuators Part Numbers 27-19008-006 or27- 19008-007; as appropriate to the aircraft model, constitutes terminating action for this AD.
This Amendment becomes effective on 23 February 2000.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: The FAA has reported two incidents where the actuators failed in flight and caused severe nose pitch up and extreme control forces. The FAA has also advised that Fairchild are issuing service bulletins reflecting the FAA AD requirements, pending development of a mechanical solution to the problem.
Amendment 1 calls out additional actuators in the Applicability and also provides a greater range of terminating options.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 September 1998.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 17 February 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 February 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, were established to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. The regulations provide a comprehensive framework for the maintenance, operation, and certification of aircraft to ensure public safety. One particular aspect of these regulations is the Airworthiness Directives, which are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address specific safety concerns identified with certain aircraft types or components. The policy objective of these directives is to mandate corrective actions to mitigate identified risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aircraft. In the case of Amendment 1 to Airworthiness Directive AD/SWSA226/85, the directive was introduced to address safety concerns related to pitch trim actuators in Fairchild SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes, specifically those equipped with certain Barber-Colman Pitch Trim Actuators. The directive was issued in response to incidents reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, which highlighted potential failures of these actuators that could lead to severe nose pitch-up and extreme control forces during flight.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses Airworthiness Directives for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all aircraft of these series that are fitted with specific Barber-Colman Pitch Trim Actuators. The directive mandates revisions to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include new limitations and restrictions, such as a reduction in the maximum indicated airspeed to the published Va and a requirement for a minimum of two pilots in the flight crew. This AD is enforceable by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies nationally across Australia. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft before further flight after the designated dates. The directive can be actioned by a pilot with at least a private pilot’s licence, ensuring that all pilots of affected aircraft are made aware of these changes. Installation of specified Simmonds-Precision or Barber Coleman actuators serves as terminating action for this AD, indicating compliance with the directive. The AD extends its reach through subordinate instruments and notifications in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, ensuring all stakeholders are informed of the regulatory requirements.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aeroplanes are the Applicability, Requirement, and Compliance sections (paras 1-2). The AD applies to all Fairchild SA226 and SA227 aircraft fitted with specific Barber-Colman Pitch Trim Actuators (para 1). The requirement is to revise the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) to include new flight envelope restrictions, specifically reducing the Maximum Indicated Airspeed to the Va (Manoeuvring Indicated Airspeed) and setting a minimum flight crew requirement of two pilots (para 1). Compliance with this AD must occur before further flight after certain dates, depending on the specific actuators installed (para 3).
The obligations imposed by this AD on the parties it governs include ensuring that all applicable aircraft are identified and that the necessary changes are made to the AFM as specified in the Requirement section. This involves updating the flight limitations and crew requirements to adhere to the AD's directives. The AD can be actioned and signed by a pilot with at least a private pilot's licence, provided the content is brought to the attention of all pilots of affected aircraft (para 1).
Breach of this AD may lead to serious civil and criminal consequences. Non-compliance with ADs is a punishable offence under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The maximum penalties for such offences can include fines and imprisonment, as prescribed by the relevant legislation. In addition, failure to adhere to ADs can result in aircraft being grounded, thereby preventing flight operations until compliance is achieved. This can have significant operational and financial repercussions for operators of the affected aircraft.