AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TB10/35 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) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB10/35
Amdt 2
Aileron and Elevator Control Gimbal Joint 4/2004
Applicability: All Model TB9 and TB10 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 or 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) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB10/35 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) AD/TB10/35 Amdt 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on 5 March 2004, pertains to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes and addresses the critical issue of potential failure in the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints, which could lead to loss of control. This legislative instrument, which amends an earlier directive, was introduced to rectify the identified unsafe condition and ensure continued airworthiness by mandating specific inspection protocols. The directive revokes AD/TB10/35 Amdt 1 and aligns with the policy objective of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation as stipulated in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998). The directive became effective on 15 April 2004 and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 March 2004.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains specifically to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) Series Aeroplanes that have not incorporated modification MOD 10-0209-27 or service bulletin No. BS 10-140. The AD mandates inspections of the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints to ensure safety, addressing potential risks associated with the failure of aileron control gimbal joints, which could lead to loss of control. The directive applies to all relevant aircraft and sets forth compliance intervals, with initial inspections required within specific timeframes post-delivery or replacement of certain parts, followed by periodic inspections at intervals not exceeding 110 flight hours or 14 months, whichever comes first. This directive, effective from 15 April 2004, revokes a previous version (AD/TB10/35 Amdt 1) and incorporates amendments to align with a revised French civil aviation authority directive, excluding aircraft that have already integrated the necessary modifications.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TB10/35 Amdt 2, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), applies to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes that do not have MOD 10-0209-27 or Service Bulletin No. BS 10-140 incorporated (Applicability section). The primary requirement of this AD is to inspect the aileron and elevator control gimbal joints in accordance with Socata Service Bulletin TB No. 10-130 Revision 2, dated January 2004 (Requirement section). This inspection is intended to address the potential failure of the aileron control gimbal joint shear pin, which could lead to a disconnection of the joint and loss of control (Background section).
Operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the specified inspections are performed within the stipulated timeframes (Compliance section). The initial inspection must be conducted within 300 flight hours or 12 months after delivery of the aircraft or replacement of an aileron or 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. These compliance times remain unchanged from previous versions of the AD.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD could result in serious safety issues, including the risk of loss of control during flight. While the AD itself does not specify penalties for non-compliance, it is important to note that non-compliance with CASA directives can lead to enforcement actions, which may include fines or other civil or criminal penalties as stipulated under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and related regulations. Operators must therefore ensure strict adherence to the inspection requirements to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft.