COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TBM 700/17 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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.
AD/TBM 700/17
Amdt 1
Elevator Trim Tab Fitting 4/2000
Applicability: Aircraft S/no. 93 to 109 and trim tabs used as replacement parts delivered between 01 January 1993 and 29 February 1996.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Socata TBM SB 70-079 Amendment 1.
Note: DGAC AD 1996-118(A) R1 refers.
Compliance: At the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue or within 100 hours time in service after the effective date of this Directive, which ever occurs first.
This Amendment becomes effective on 20 April 2000.
Background: Fittings from a particular foundry batch have been found to crack. This defect if not found and corrected, may result in separation of the trim tab and a consequent unacceptable risk of flutter.
Amendment 1 issued to follow the latest Revision of the manufacturer's SB and the country of manufacture airworthiness authority.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 10 October 1996.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 March 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 March 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, a crucial piece of legislation governing aviation safety in Australia, was enacted to ensure the highest standards of airworthiness and safety in civil aviation. Among its provisions, Part 39 - 105 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, which are designed to address safety issues that may compromise the integrity of aircraft. In this context, Airworthiness Directive AD/TBM 700/17 and its subsequent amendment, AD/TBM 700/17 Amdt 1, were issued to rectify a specific safety concern identified in the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes. This directive mandates corrective action to be taken on certain aircraft and trim tab fittings, following the discovery of potential structural defects that could lead to serious safety risks, such as trim tab separation and flutter. The objective of this legislative measure is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of the affected aircraft by enforcing timely and appropriate maintenance actions.
Scope and Application
This legislative instrument, part of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 93 to 109, as well as any trim tabs used as replacement parts that were delivered between 01 January 1993 and 29 February 1996. The directive is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains to the rectification of a defect identified in the elevator trim tab fitting, which could potentially lead to cracking, separation of the trim tab, and flutter, posing an unacceptable safety risk. The application of this directive is geographically bounded by the jurisdictional reach of the Commonwealth of Australia, extending to all aircraft within its territory that meet the specified criteria. The directive mandates corrective action in accordance with Socata TBM SB 70-079 Amendment 1, and compliance must be achieved at the next inspection for maintenance release issue or within 100 hours of time in service after the directive's effective date, whichever comes first. The directive, originally issued on 10 October 1996, was amended on 20 April 2000 to align with the latest revision of the manufacturer's Service Bulletin and the corresponding directive issued by the country of manufacture's airworthiness authority. This legislative instrument is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette to ensure its promulgation and enforceability within the specified aviation sector.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD/TBM 700/17 Amdt 1) apply to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers 93 to 109 and trim tabs used as replacement parts that were delivered between 1 January 1993 and 29 February 1996. The directive requires the action stipulated in Socata TBM Service Bulletin (SB) 70-079 Amendment 1, which aims to address a defect in the elevator trim tab fittings that could lead to cracking, separation of the trim tab, and an unacceptable risk of flutter (Section 4). Compliance with this directive must occur at the next inspection for Maintenance Release issue or within 100 hours of time in service after the effective date of this directive, whichever comes first.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the action specified in the requirement section is carried out in accordance with the instructions provided in Socata TBM SB 70-079 Amendment 1. This involves inspecting and, if necessary, replacing the elevator trim tab fittings to prevent the identified safety risk. The directive also mandates that the corrective action be completed by the next inspection or within 100 hours of operation after the directive becomes effective, whichever is sooner.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive could result in serious safety risks for the aircraft in question. While the specific legal consequences are not detailed in the excerpt, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with such directives could lead to severe penalties under civil aviation laws. These might include fines, grounding of the aircraft, or other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Given the nature of the directive, which aims to prevent a potentially catastrophic failure, penalties could be significant, reflecting the importance of adhering to airworthiness standards.