AD/TB10/32 - Seat Unlocking

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

 


AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE


For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.

 

Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 & TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes

 

AD/TB 10/32 Seat Unlocking 7/2001

 

Applicability:  All TB9 and TB10 aircraft without Socata modification No. 165 incorporated in production.

 

Requirement: Action in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin No. 10-115-25.

 

Note: DGAC AD 2001-005(A) refers.

 

Compliance: Unless already accomplished, at the next scheduled inspection after 19 July 2001.

 

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 12 July 2001.

 

Background:  The manufacturer received reports of front seats unlocking. Investigation revealed interference of the seat pan with the locking mechanism as the cause. This Directive requires modification action.


 

David Alan Villiers

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 1 June 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 June 2001.

 

 


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Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998), enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, serve to regulate civil aviation activities within the country. This legislation, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations. One of the ways CASA addresses safety concerns is through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which are legally binding orders that require aircraft owners and operators to rectify specific safety issues. AD/TB 10/32, issued in July 2001, is an example of such an AD, addressing a safety issue concerning the unlocking of front seats on Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes. This AD mandates the implementation of a specific modification to resolve the identified safety concern, ensuring compliance at the next scheduled inspection following the directive's issuance.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, governs the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to all aircraft registered in Australia, ensuring compliance with safety standards. This specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes that do not have Socata modification No. 165 incorporated in their production. The directive mandates corrective action for an identified unsafe condition related to the front seats unlocking, which has been traced to interference of the seat pan with the locking mechanism. The directive requires adherence to the instructions outlined in Socata Service Bulletin No. 10-115-25 and mandates that the specified modification be undertaken at the next scheduled inspection following the effective date of 12 July 2001. This directive is applicable nationwide and must be complied with by all relevant aircraft operators and maintenance personnel.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under Part 39 - 105, establish the framework for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Specifically, section 39.1(1) allows a CASA delegate to issue an AD when it is deemed necessary to address an unsafe condition in aircraft or aeronautical products. The AD in question (AD/TB 10/32) pertains to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes and mandates corrective action due to a reported issue with seat unlocking. This Airworthiness Directive applies to all TB9 and TB10 aircraft that do not have Socata modification No. 165 incorporated in their production. The requirement outlined in the AD mandates that the corrective action be in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin No. 10-115-25. This service bulletin likely contains specific instructions for modifying the aircraft to prevent the front seats from unlocking, which has been identified as a safety issue. The AD references DGAC AD 2001-005(A) for additional context or related actions taken by other aviation authorities. The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this AD include ensuring that the specified modification is carried out. Aircraft owners and operators must comply with the directive at the next scheduled inspection following the effective date of the AD, which is 19 July 2001. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to non-compliance with aviation safety standards, potentially resulting in serious safety hazards. Breach of the AD may lead to civil or criminal consequences, depending on the severity of the non-compliance and the impact on aviation safety. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, CASA has the authority to impose fines and other regulatory measures under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. In severe cases, persistent non-compliance could result in the grounding of the affected aircraft until the required modifications are made, which could significantly impact the operations of the aircraft owner or operator.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.