Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, were enacted to regulate civil aviation safety and establish standards for airworthiness and other related matters. This legislation provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. One significant aspect of this regulation is the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). For instance, AD/TBM 700/25 issued in 2001, pertains specifically to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes and addresses the issue of potential jamming of the propeller governor flexible control cable due to hardening of its internal sleeve. This AD mandates the installation of a thermal protection sleeve to prevent such unsafe conditions, ensuring that the aircraft maintain their airworthiness and operational safety. The policy objective is to mitigate risks and ensure that any identified safety issues are promptly addressed to protect both passengers and crew.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the legislative instrument F2006B07373, specifically within PART 39 - 105, addresses the safety of the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes through the issuance of an Airworthiness Directive (AD). This directive applies to all TBM 700 aircraft that have not yet incorporated Socata Modification 70-121-76 or Service Bulletin TBM 700 No 70-084-76, mandating the installation of a thermal protection sleeve on the propeller governor flexible control cable to prevent it from hardening and jamming, which could otherwise impede propeller controls. This directive, issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, is effective from 31 January 2001, with a compliance deadline of 26 February 2001. The directive’s geographic reach is national, impacting all relevant aircraft operating within Australia’s jurisdiction. It should be noted that the directive references DGAC AD 2000-430(A), indicating a coordinated approach to airworthiness standards across jurisdictions. The AD is applicable solely to the specified aircraft and does not extend to those that have already implemented the required modifications or service bulletins.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, contains the legislative framework governing the issuance and compliance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) in Australia. Section 39.1 (1) empowers the delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue ADs to address unsafe conditions identified in civil aircraft, which in this case is the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplane (subsection 39.1(1)). The AD in question, AD/TBM 700/25, mandates that a thermal protection sleeve be installed on the propeller governor flexible control cable of affected TBM 700 aircraft (subsection 39.1(2)). This requirement aims to prevent the internal sleeve of the cable from hardening and jamming the propeller controls, thus averting potential issues such as the inability to change propeller speed or feather the propeller (subsection 39.1(3)). The AD applies to TBM 700 aircraft that have not yet incorporated Socata Modification 70-121-76 or Service Bulletin TBM 700 No 70-084-76 (subsection 39.1(4)). Under this AD, the primary obligation for the aircraft operators and owners is to ensure that the specified modification is carried out by the compliance date. Specifically, they must install a thermal protection sleeve to the propeller governor flexible control cable as outlined in the Socata Alert Service Bulletin, TBM 700 No 70-084-76 (subsection 39.1(5)). This directive is designed to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft by mitigating the identified safety hazard. Operators and owners must adhere strictly to the instructions and timeline specified in the AD to ensure compliance and avoid potential safety risks. The AD also references DGAC AD 2000-430(A) for additional guidance (subsection 39.1(6)). Failure to comply with the requirements of this Airworthiness Directive could result in severe consequences. Although the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with ADs generally could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, suspension of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other regulatory sanctions. The AD stipulates that the installation must be completed no later than 26 February 2001 (subsection 39.1(7)). The directive became effective on 31 January 2001, providing a clear timeframe within which compliance must be achieved (subsection 39.1(8)).