AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TB 200/8 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 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.
Aerospatiale (Socata) TB 200 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB 200/8
Amdt 2
Aileron and Elevator Control Gimbal Joint 4/2004
Applicability: All Model TB200 aircraft, without MOD 10-0209-27 or Service Bulletin No. BS 10- 140 incorporated.
Requirement: Inspect the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin TB No. 10-130 Revision 2, dated January 2004.
Note: DGAC AD F-2003-368 R2 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 300 flight hours or 12 months, whichever occurs first; following delivery of the aircraft or replacement of an aileron and elevator gimbal joint;
or,
Within 50 flight hours after 27 November 2003, whichever occurs later.
2. Repeat thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 flight hours or 14 months, whichever occurs first.
The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue. This Amendment becomes effective on 15 April 2004.
Background: Failure of an aileron control gimbal joint shear pin could result in disconnection of the joint and consequent loss of control. This Directive requires inspection of the shear and joint pins for security and the application of paint witness marks to the pins.
Amendment 1 extended the inspection to the elevator control gimbal joints and changed compliance times.
Amendment 2 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD, which changes aircraft applicability to exclude aircraft that have the terminating modification for the requirements of this Directive incorporated.
Aerospatiale (Socata) TB 200 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB 200/8 Amdt 2 (continued)
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 11 July 2002.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 March 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 March 2004.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive AD/TB 200/8 Amdt 2, issued in 2004, addresses the critical safety issue of potential failure in the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints of Aerospatiale (Socata) TB 200 Series Aeroplanes, which could lead to loss of control. This directive was enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, aiming to mitigate the unsafe condition identified. The policy objective is to ensure that all applicable aircraft undergo the necessary inspections and maintenance to prevent such failures. This amendment, in particular, responds to a revision of the related French Directorate General for Civil Aviation Airworthiness Directive, refining the scope to exclude aircraft that have already incorporated the necessary modifications. The directive mandates specific inspection intervals to ensure ongoing airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive AD/TB 200/8 Amdt 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, applies specifically to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB 200 Series Aeroplanes that do not have Modification 10-0209-27 or Service Bulletin No. BS 10-140 incorporated. This directive mandates the inspection of aileron and elevator control gimbal joints to ensure safety and compliance with the Socata Service Bulletin TB No. 10-130 Revision 2, dated January 2004. The directive is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and requires adherence from aircraft operators and maintenance entities responsible for the mentioned aircraft models. The directive sets specific intervals for inspection, including an initial inspection within 300 flight hours or 12 months following delivery or replacement of the gimbal joints, and subsequent inspections every 110 flight hours or 14 months. This Airworthiness Directive aims to mitigate the risk of loss of control due to potential failure of the gimbal joint shear pin, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD), AD/TB 200/8 Amdt 2, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), applies to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TB 200 Series aeroplanes that have not incorporated Modification 10-0209-27 or Service Bulletin No. BS 10-140. The directive mandates that the specified actions, as outlined in the requirement section, must be undertaken to address an identified unsafe condition (Section 4). The requirement section specifies that the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints must be inspected in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin TB No. 10-130 Revision 2, dated January 2004. This inspection is essential to ensure that the shear pins securing the joints are secure and to apply paint witness marks to the pins as a verification method (Section 4). This AD references DGAC AD F-2003-368 R2, indicating alignment with international safety directives.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that the inspections are conducted by qualified personnel in accordance with the instructions provided in Socata Service Bulletin TB No. 10-130 Revision 2. The inspections must be performed within the specified timeframes: either within 300 flight hours or 12 months following delivery of the aircraft or replacement of an aileron and elevator gimbal joint, or within 50 flight hours after 27 November 2003, whichever occurs later. Subsequent inspections must be carried out at intervals not exceeding 110 flight hours or 14 months, whichever comes first (Section 4). Operators and owners must maintain records of these inspections to demonstrate compliance with the AD.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in severe consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives is an offence under CASR 1998, and operators or owners who fail to adhere to the specified inspection intervals or fail to perform the inspections correctly may face regulatory action. The penalties for non-compliance can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft until the required actions are taken. In addition, non-compliance may lead to civil liability in the event of an accident or incident resulting from the unsafe condition addressed by the AD. The specific penalties are detailed in the CASR 1998, which may include substantial financial penalties and imprisonment for serious breaches.