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/TB20/26
Amdt 3
Rudder Balance Weight 6/98
Applicability: Model TB20 and TB21 aircraft with serial numbers 1 through 1554, 1754 through 1757, and 1767 through 1821.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Socata TB Service Bulletin 10-071-55 Revision 3.
Note: DGAC AD 93-012 (A) R2 refers.
Compliance: For aircraft serial numbers 1 through 1554: Before 31 August 1998.
For aircraft serial numbers 1754 through 1757, and 1767 through 1821:
Before 31 December 1998.
This amendment becomes effective on 21 May 1998.
Background: The DGAC requires certain measures to be taken to avoid development of galvanic corrosion between the balance weight and both rudder tip stiffeners. Amendment 1 reflected a requirement document revision which corrected text anomalies and material information. Amendment 2 reflected a requirement document revision which clarified applicability.
Amendment 3 is issued in response to a revision of the related DGAC AD which reflects a revision of the Requirement document which expands applicability and compliance times.
Amendment 2 to this airworthiness directive became effective on 26 May 1994. Amendment 1 to this airworthiness directive became effective on 22 July 1993.
The original issue of this airworthiness directive became effective on 29 April 1993.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses the safety and operational standards for certain aircraft models. One such directive pertains to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes, with AD/TB20/26 Amendment 3 focusing on the rudder balance weight. This legislation was enacted to ensure the prevention of galvanic corrosion between the balance weight and the rudder tip stiffeners, which could compromise the structural integrity and safety of the aircraft. The amendment was introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia, with the objective of maintaining stringent safety standards in the aviation industry to safeguard passengers and crew. The amendment reflects revisions to the requirement document, aiming to expand applicability and compliance times for specific serial numbers, ensuring that the aircraft meet the necessary safety benchmarks.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 pertaining to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes. This directive, identified as AD/TB20/26 Amendment 3, is applicable to Model TB20 and TB21 aircraft with serial numbers 1 through 1554, 1754 through 1757, and 1767 through 1821. The directive mandates compliance with Socata TB Service Bulletin 10-071-55 Revision 3, which is aimed at preventing the development of galvanic corrosion between the rudder balance weight and the rudder tip stiffeners. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it pertains to all aircraft registered within Australia and operated under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, and it is binding on all entities operating these specified aircraft models within the Australian aviation sector. Compliance is required by specific dates, with different deadlines for different serial number ranges, ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in PART 39 - 105, contain an Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) concerning Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes. AD/TB20/26 Amendment 3 addresses the rudder balance weight (section 6/98) and applies to specific serial numbers of the TB20 and TB21 models, namely those with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 1554, 1754 to 1757, and 1767 to 1821. This directive mandates compliance with Socata TB Service Bulletin 10-071-55 Revision 3 to prevent galvanic corrosion between the balance weight and rudder tip stiffeners. The note DGAC AD 93-012 (A) R2 refers provides additional context and reference for the directive.
The AD imposes clear obligations on aircraft owners and operators. For TB20 and TB21 aircraft within the specified serial number ranges, they must adhere to the actions outlined in the Socata TB Service Bulletin 10-071-55 Revision 3. This involves specific maintenance actions to prevent the identified corrosion issues. The compliance dates vary depending on the serial number: for aircraft with serial numbers 1 to 1554, the compliance deadline was 31 August 1998, whereas for aircraft with serial numbers 1754 to 1757 and 1767 to 1821, the compliance deadline was 31 December 1998. The directive itself became effective on 21 May 1998, underscoring the urgency and importance of timely compliance.
Failure to comply with this AD may result in significant legal and operational consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline penalties within the AD text itself, but non-compliance could lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. This, in turn, could result in enforcement actions by CASA, which might include fines, operational restrictions, or even grounding of the aircraft. Additionally, the potential for increased safety risks and liability for accidents stemming from non-compliance could lead to substantial civil liabilities and criminal charges, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on flight safety.