Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended through the legislative instrument F2006B07316, introduced specific airworthiness directives for Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes, particularly addressing concerns about fuel tank contamination and water accumulation. This directive was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority to ensure the ongoing airworthiness and safety of the specified aircraft models by mandating regular inspections and maintenance procedures. The policy objective of these regulations is to maintain a high standard of aviation safety by preventing the risk of fuel contamination, which can compromise the integrity of flight operations. Compliance with these directives is crucial for aircraft operators to ensure that their aircraft meet the required safety standards before and after flights, especially when periods of inactivity exceed specified durations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses Airworthiness Directives that apply to specific aircraft models, such as the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes. These directives apply to all entities or persons responsible for the maintenance and operation of the TB20 and TB21 models. The regulations mandate specific actions to ensure the aircraft's airworthiness, particularly concerning fuel tanks, and these apply regardless of the location within Australia or the nature of the flight operations. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this directive is national, falling under the Commonwealth's authority. The directive sets out compliance requirements based on the frequency of flights, demanding inspections and modifications to prevent contamination in fuel tanks. Notably, the directive extends its applicability through subordinate instruments, which may further detail implementation and compliance measures.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, contains the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes, which include models TB20 and TB21. This legislation mandates certain actions and modifications to be carried out on these aircraft models to ensure airworthiness and safety, as outlined in AD/TB20/13 Amendment 1. The primary requirement (section 1) is that, unless modified in accordance with Requirement 2, the aircraft must be positioned in a specific ground attitude and left in that position for a set duration, after which the fuel must be drained and inspected (sections 1(a)-(d)). Additionally, the fuel tanks must be modified in line with Socata TB Service Bulletin No. 48 (section 2). These requirements impose several obligations on the parties involved. For aircraft that have not been flown for a week or more, the procedures must be followed before the next flight after 22 February 1990 and then before any subsequent flight where a week or more has elapsed between flights. For aircraft that are flying with less than a week between flights, the procedures must be carried out within 25 hours of time in service after 22 February 1990 and then within periods not exceeding 50 hours of time in service thereafter. Furthermore, all aircraft must comply with these requirements prior to 28 February 1991. The inspection may be performed by the pilot in command, but certification is required, and a copy of this directive must be carried on the aircraft at all times (Compliance section). Failure to comply with these directives can result in civil and criminal consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to regulatory action by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Such actions could include fines, revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other enforcement measures designed to ensure adherence to safety standards. The text indicates that the directive must be entered on the Maintenance Release as maintenance required, underscoring the seriousness with which compliance is viewed.