COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes
AD/TB20/43 Pitch Trim Actuator Seals 11/2003
Applicability: TB 20 and TB 21 aircraft Serial Number (S/N) 2042, 2050, 2056 to 2118, 2123 to
2125 and 2144.
Requirement: Check and replace the pitch trim actuator tightness seals in accordance with EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (S/B) TB No 10-135 dated April 2003.
Note: DGAC AD 2003-286(A) refers.
Compliance: At the next 100 hourly inspection or prior to 31 December 2003.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 October 2003.
Background: Non-conforming tightness seals fitted to the pitch trim actuator could lead to icing inside the actuator.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 September 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 October 2003.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were established to ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia and to provide a framework for the regulation of civil aviation safety. One of the significant instruments under these regulations is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes specific directives aimed at maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) targets the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing a safety issue related to the pitch trim actuator tightness seals. The directive was introduced to correct an unsafe condition that could potentially lead to icing within the pitch trim actuator, thereby ensuring the continued safe operation of the affected aircraft. The directive mandates that the tightness seals be checked and replaced in accordance with the specified service bulletin, and it outlines the compliance timeline, thereby aiming to mitigate the identified safety risk.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 – 105, addresses airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure safety standards in the aviation industry. This particular Airworthiness Directive pertains to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes, applying to specific serial numbers of TB 20 and TB 21 aircraft. The directive mandates the inspection and replacement of the pitch trim actuator tightness seals in accordance with EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin TB No 10-135 dated April 2003, to prevent potential icing within the actuator which could compromise safety. This requirement must be fulfilled at the next 100-hourly inspection or before 31 December 2003, with the directive becoming effective from 30 October 2003. The application of this AD is geographically confined to the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is notified through the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), specifically in Part 39 - 105, outline the requirements for Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure aircraft safety. Under this regulation, an Airworthiness Directive is issued when a CASA delegate identifies a potential safety issue with specific aircraft models. This directive (AD/TB20/43) applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes with specific serial numbers (s/n 2042, 2050, 2056 to 2118, 2123 to 2125, and 2144). The directive requires that the pitch trim actuator tightness seals be checked and replaced in accordance with EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (S/B) TB No 10-135 dated April 2003. This must be done during the next 100-hourly inspection or before 31 December 2003, and the directive became effective on 30 October 2003.
The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive on the relevant parties include ensuring that the specified aircraft undergo a thorough inspection and necessary maintenance to replace the pitch trim actuator seals. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must adhere to the instructions provided in the EADS SOCATA Service Bulletin (S/B) TB No 10-135 to perform the required checks and replacements correctly. Operators must also ensure that the maintenance is conducted in a timely manner, either at the next 100-hourly inspection or by the specified deadline of 31 December 2003. Failure to comply with the directive could result in the aircraft not meeting airworthiness standards, potentially leading to safety issues.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance within the text, but non-compliance can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. This could lead to grounding of the aircraft, preventing it from operating until the necessary maintenance is performed. Additionally, operators and maintenance personnel who fail to adhere to the directive may face scrutiny from CASA, which could result in fines, enforcement actions, or other regulatory penalties. The specific penalties would be determined by CASA based on the severity and circumstances of the non-compliance.