COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB20/12
Amdt 1
Fuselage Frame 9 6/88
Applicability: TB20 and TB21 series aeroplanes with S/N 1 to 795 without modification No 70 embodied.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Aerospatiale (Socata) Service Bulletin No 35/1.
Compliance: (a) For aircraft with 1500 hours or more total time in service - inspect before further flight after 9 October 1987.
(b) For aircraft with less than 1475 hours total time in service - inspect within 25 hours time in service after 9 October 1987.
(c) Thereafter, reinspect at each issue of a new Maintenance Release.
Note: Embodiment of Aerospatiale (Socata) modification No 70 constitutes terminating action for this Directive.
Background: Notification has been received from the manufacturer of in service cracking on overseas aircraft. This Directive has been amended to reflect the terminating action specified in the Requirement document.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of Part 39, specifically address safety directives related to aircraft, with Amendment 1 (AD/TB20/12) targeting the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes. This amendment was enacted to address a critical safety issue identified by the manufacturer concerning in-service cracking, particularly in the fuselage frame 9 area, for certain models of the TB20 series. The objective of this directive is to ensure that affected aircraft are inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's service bulletin, thereby mitigating the risk of structural failure. This legislative instrument was established by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, operating under the authority delegated by the Commonwealth Parliament, to uphold stringent safety standards within the civil aviation sector. The policy objective is to protect the integrity of aircraft in service and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes as outlined in AD/TB20/12 Amendment 1. This legislation targets TB20 and TB21 series aeroplanes with serial numbers 1 to 795 that have not incorporated modification No 70. The directive mandates actions as specified in Aerospatiale (Socata) Service Bulletin No 35/1, focusing on fuselage frame 9. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this Act is nationwide, governing all civil aviation activities within the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions, but the applicability is contingent on the aircraft's total service hours and the incorporation of specific modifications. The Act extends its application through subordinate instruments, which provide further detail on compliance requirements and enforcement mechanisms.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, mandates specific airworthiness directives for various types of aircraft. Section 39-105.01 outlines the general requirement for compliance with these directives, which are designed to ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft in Australian airspace. Specifically, Airworthiness Directive AD/TB20/12 Amendment 1, which pertains to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes, mandates detailed inspection and maintenance procedures to address structural issues identified by the manufacturer.
The directive applies to TB20 and TB21 series aeroplanes with serial numbers 1 to 795, unless they have already incorporated modification No 70 (section 39-105.02). According to section 39-105.03, the directive requires compliance with Aerospatiale (Socata) Service Bulletin No 35/1. This involves conducting inspections to check for fuselage frame issues, particularly cracking. The frequency of inspections depends on the total time in service the aircraft has accumulated. For aircraft with 1500 hours or more, inspections must be conducted before further flight after 9 October 1987. For those with less than 1475 hours, inspections must occur within 25 hours of time in service after 9 October 1987. Subsequent inspections should be performed at each issue of a new Maintenance Release.
Section 39-105.04 specifies that the incorporation of Aerospatiale (Socata) modification No 70 effectively terminates the requirement of this directive, meaning that no further inspections are necessary once this modification has been applied. The directive is in response to reports from the manufacturer of in-service cracking on overseas aircraft, highlighting the importance of timely inspections to maintain the integrity and safety of the aircraft.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in significant legal and safety consequences. Non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including the issuance of penalties as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. In particular, section 39-105.05 stipulates that operators who do not adhere to the mandated inspections and modifications may face substantial fines and other penalties. Additionally, aircraft found to be non-compliant may be grounded, preventing further operation until the required actions are completed and approved by CASA. Such enforcement underscores the importance of adhering to these regulations to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft in operation.