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/TB20/8 Aileron Balance Weight Attachment 5/87
Applicability: All TB20 with S/Nos 275 to 700 except S/No 343, 638, 639, 643, 644, 645, 653, 664,
665, 672, 673, 683, 691, 693, 697, 698.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Socata TB SB No 28.
Compliance: At the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 7 May 1987 and thereafter at each scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue until modified.
Background: The manufacturer reports instances of loosening of balance weights and skin cracking in the balance weight attachment area.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, include Airworthiness Directives (AD) aimed at maintaining the safety standards of civil aviation in Australia. One such directive is AD/TB20/8, which applies to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes, addressing an issue with the aileron balance weight attachment. This directive was introduced to ensure the safety of aircraft by preventing instances of loosening of balance weights and skin cracking in the balance weight attachment area. The requirement stipulates action in accordance with Socata TB Service Bulletin No 28 and mandates compliance at the next scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue after 7 May 1987 and thereafter at each scheduled inspection. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, operating under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, enacted this directive to safeguard against potential safety hazards in these specific aircraft models.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives applies to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 275 to 700, excluding specific serial numbers identified in the directive. This regulation is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically targeting the maintenance and airworthiness requirements of these aircraft. The directive mandates that the corrective action, as specified in Socata Technical Service Bulletin No 28, must be undertaken to address the reported issues of loosening balance weights and skin cracking in the balance weight attachment area. Compliance with this directive is required at the next scheduled inspection for a Maintenance Release issue following the date of the directive, 7 May 1987, and subsequently at each scheduled inspection for Maintenance Release issue until the modification is implemented. The directive applies nationally across Australia, governed by the Commonwealth, and does not specify any exclusions or exemptions beyond the listed serial numbers. The detailed requirements and specific actions are to be carried out by authorised maintenance personnel in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, establish the authority and procedures for issuing airworthiness directives (AD) that ensure the safety and compliance of aircraft operations in Australia. One such directive is AD/TB20/8 (paragraph 1), which applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes with serial numbers (S/No) between 275 and 700, excluding specific S/Nos listed. This directive mandates action in accordance with Socata TB Service Bulletin No 28 (paragraph 2). The action required involves addressing issues of aileron balance weight attachment, specifically instances of loosening of balance weights and skin cracking in the balance weight attachment area reported by the manufacturer (paragraph 3). Compliance with this directive must occur at the next scheduled inspection for maintenance release after 7 May 1987 and continue at each subsequent scheduled inspection for maintenance release until the modification is completed (paragraph 4).
Under this legislation, the entities governed by AD/TB20/8 must adhere to the specific requirements set out in the directive. This includes ensuring that the aileron balance weights on the specified aircraft models are inspected, and any necessary repairs or modifications are made in accordance with the manufacturer's Service Bulletin No 28 (paragraph 5). These entities are typically aircraft operators, maintenance organisations, or other entities responsible for the maintenance and airworthiness of the affected aircraft (paragraph 6). The compliance must be documented and verified at each scheduled inspection to ensure the aircraft remain airworthy and meet the necessary safety standards (paragraph 7).
Failure to comply with the requirements of AD/TB20/8 may result in serious safety hazards, as the directive is designed to address specific issues that could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft (paragraph 8). While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided excerpt, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally could result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (paragraph 9). Such actions might include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft certificates of airworthiness, or other regulatory penalties (paragraph 10). The severity of the consequences can vary based on the extent of the non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety (paragraph 11).