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/TB20/14
Amdt 1
Fuselage Frame NR 0 - Firewall 13/90
Applicability: TB20 and TB21 aircraft with S/Nos 1 to 1051 inclusive, except S/Nos 1040 and 1042. Requirement: Action in accordance with Aerospatiale Socata TB SB 42/1.
Note 1: DGAC AD 89-175 (A) R1 refers.
Note 2: Modification in accordance with kit number 9152 constitutes terminating action for this Directive.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, - prior to exceeding 1500 hours total time in service or within 100 hours time in service after 27 December 1990, whichever occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours time in service.
Background: Country of origin AD. There is a possibility of cracks occurring at engine mount and landing gear attachment areas.
Amendment 1 references latest requirement documents and adds to aircraft affected.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the legislative authority of the Australian Parliament, were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. One specific area addressed by these regulations is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), which mandate corrective actions to maintain aircraft safety. AD/TB20/14 Amendment 1, issued under Part 39 - 105 of the regulations, focuses on the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes. This AD was introduced to address the identified risk of cracks in the fuselage frame near the firewall, engine mount, and landing gear attachment areas. The policy objective is to ensure that these aircraft meet specific maintenance and inspection requirements to prevent structural failures, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for TB20 and TB21 aircraft with serial numbers 1 to 1051, excluding 1040 and 1042, with inspections required at set intervals based on flight hours to mitigate the risk of potential structural issues.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 specifically targets Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes through AD/TB20/14 Amendment 1, focusing on the fuselage frame near the firewall. This directive applies to TB20 and TB21 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 1051, excluding serial numbers 1040 and 1042. The regulation mandates compliance with Aerospatiale Socata TB SB 42/1, referencing DGAC AD 89-175 (A) R1, and notes that modifications in accordance with kit number 9152 are considered as terminating action for this directive. The directive requires that compliance be achieved before the aircraft exceeds 1500 hours of total time in service or within 100 hours after 27 December 1990, whichever is later, and must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of time in service thereafter. This ensures the prevention of potential cracks at engine mount and landing gear attachment areas.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 105, includes specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) related to various aircraft models, including the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes. The directive in question, AD/TB20/14 Amendment 1, applies to TB20 and TB21 aircraft with serial numbers (S/Nos) ranging from 1 to 1051 inclusive, excluding S/Nos 1040 and 1042. This directive mandates that action must be taken in accordance with Aerospatiale Socata TB SB 42/1. The directive references a French Civil Aviation Authority directive (DGAC AD 89-175 (A) R1) and notes that modifications following kit number 9152 satisfy the requirements of this directive.
The AD imposes compliance obligations on the operators of affected aircraft. Specifically, operators must ensure that the action specified in Aerospatiale Socata TB SB 42/1 is completed unless it has already been done. The directive requires compliance prior to exceeding 1500 hours of total time in service or within 100 hours of time in service after 27 December 1990, whichever occurs later. Thereafter, compliance is required at intervals not exceeding 500 hours of total time in service. The directive aims to address the possibility of cracks occurring at the engine mount and landing gear attachment areas.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this directive can lead to serious consequences. The AD is a legal requirement enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Non-compliance can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, potentially leading to enforcement actions against the operator. While specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself, CASA can impose substantial fines, and operators can face legal proceedings which may include imprisonment. The seriousness of the consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the specified compliance intervals and actions to maintain the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.