AD/TBM 700/10 - Wing Tip Draining

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address safety concerns related to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aim to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft through the implementation of specific directives, such as AD/TBM 700/10, which mandates actions to prevent water accumulation in the wing tips of TBM 700 aircraft. This legislative instrument was introduced to fill a critical gap in ensuring the structural integrity and safety of these aircraft models, particularly those with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 92, by requiring compliance with Socata’s Mandatory Service Bulletin 70.052.57. The policy objective is to enhance safety standards and mitigate risks associated with potential water accumulation that could compromise the aircraft's performance and safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, govern the aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, focusing on ensuring their airworthiness. This regulation applies to all TBM 700 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 92, mandating compliance with the requirements outlined in SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin 70.052.57. This bulletin directs actions to prevent water accumulation in the wing tips between ribs N18 and N19, a critical safety measure. The regulation extends to enforcing actions as required by the DGAC AD 94-268(B), ensuring that any safety directives issued by the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation are adhered to by Australian operators of these aircraft. Compliance with these airworthiness directives is essential, with a specific emphasis on actions being completed prior to 17 December 1995, thereby ensuring the continued safety and operational standards of these aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) concerning the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes are found in Part 39, specifically under the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. Section 39.105 pertains to the AD/TBM 700/10 directive, which mandates action to be taken regarding wing tip draining. This directive applies to the TBM 700 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 92. The requirement, as per section 39.105, mandates that the action must be in accordance with Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin 70.052.57. It is noteworthy that the directive references DGAC AD 94-268(B) and specifies a compliance date of prior to 17 December 1995. The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act on the relevant parties include ensuring that all specified TBM 700 series aircraft are compliant with the airworthiness directive. This involves taking the prescribed action outlined in Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin 70.052.57, which addresses the prevention of water accumulation in the wing tips between ribs N18 and N19. Compliance must be achieved before the specified deadline of 17 December 1995. This requirement ensures that the aircraft maintain a high standard of safety and airworthiness, particularly concerning the structural integrity of the wing tips. In terms of the consequences for non-compliance, while the specific provisions of the CAR 1998 do not detail specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences within the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a serious matter. Typically, non-compliance with such directives could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These could include fines, penalties, or even grounding of the aircraft until compliance is achieved. In severe cases, criminal charges might be applicable, depending on the circumstances and the extent of the non-compliance. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as outlined in other parts of the CAR 1998 and relevant aviation safety regulations.