COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TBM 700/33 and issues the following 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) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TBM 700/33
Amdt 1
Vertical Stabiliser Attachment Fittings 1/2005
Applicability: Model TBM 700 aircraft, serial numbers 1 through 308, and serial number 310; except aircraft with both modifications MOD70-127-55 and MOD70-129-53 incorporated in production.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. SB 70-104 Revision 1, dated August 2004, or later EASA approved revision.
Note: DGAC AD F-2003-366 R1 refers.
Compliance: Following accomplishment of the initial inspection, inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,200 flight hours or every second annual inspection, whichever occurs first.
This Amendment becomes effective on 20 January 2005.
Background: Reports were received of cracks in the vertical stabiliser attachment fitting of in- service aircraft, as a result of corrosion.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the Requirement document, which clarifies aircraft applicability.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 3 December 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.
Page 1 of 1
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, addressing gaps in safety standards and regulations. In 2005, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to address an unsafe condition identified in the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes. The directive, AD/TBM 700/33 Amendment 1, was issued to respond to reports of cracks in the vertical stabiliser attachment fittings of in-service aircraft due to corrosion. This directive mandates inspections in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. SB 70-104 Revision 1, dated August 2004, or later EASA approved revisions, to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of affected aircraft. The AD was issued by David Villiers, a delegate of CASA, and became effective on 20 January 2005, with notification published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39-105, establishes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which applies to all aircraft and aeronautical products operating within Australia. The legislation mandates CASA to issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft, and these directives apply to specific models and serial numbers of aircraft, as illustrated by the recent amendment to AD/TBM 700/33. This particular AD applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 308 and 310, except for aircraft that have incorporated both modifications MOD70-127-55 and MOD70-129-53 in their production. The AD mandates an inspection procedure to be followed as per Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. SB 70-104 Revision 1 or later, in response to reports of cracks in the vertical stabiliser attachment fittings due to corrosion. The directive requires inspections following the initial inspection at intervals not exceeding 1,200 flight hours or during the second annual inspection, whichever comes first. This amendment became effective on 20 January 2005, and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), specifically Part 39 - 105, address the requirements for airworthiness directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Section 39.1(1) empowers CASA to issue ADs where it is necessary to address safety issues. In this particular AD (AD/TBM 700/33 Amendment 1), CASA revokes the previous directive and issues a new one pertaining to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes, specifically addressing vertical stabiliser attachment fittings. The AD applies to TBM 700 aircraft with serial numbers 1 through 308 and 310, excluding those with certain modifications already incorporated (MOD70-127-55 and MOD70-129-53).
The AD mandates that inspections must be conducted in accordance with Socata TBM 700 Service Bulletin No. SB 70-104 Revision 1, dated August 2004, or later EASA-approved revisions. This inspection process is intended to identify and address cracks in the vertical stabiliser attachment fittings caused by corrosion. CASA's directive is a response to reported issues in service and aligns with a revision from the French civil aviation authority, DGAC AD F-2003-366 R1. The requirement necessitates an initial inspection followed by subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 1,200 flight hours or every second annual inspection, whichever comes first.
Entities and individuals governed by this AD, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must ensure compliance with the inspection requirements. This includes maintaining accurate records of inspections and any remedial actions taken. Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious safety risks, including potential structural failure of the vertical stabiliser, which could compromise the aircraft's airworthiness.
Under CASR, non-compliance with ADs can lead to civil and criminal consequences. Civil penalties may include fines up to $126,000 for individuals and $630,000 for corporations, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Criminal penalties may include imprisonment for up to five years, reflecting the severity of neglecting airworthiness directives designed to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. The AD becomes effective on 20 January 2005, and it is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 December 2004.