Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, constitute a comprehensive legal framework aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. One of the legislative instruments under this act, specifically F2006B07476, addresses the safety concerns related to the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument was introduced to fill a critical gap in the oversight of the airworthiness of specific models of aircraft, ensuring they meet the required safety standards. The enactment body is the Parliament of Australia, and the policy objective is to maintain high standards of safety within the civil aviation sector, thereby protecting both passengers and crew. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B07476, focuses on the inspection and modification of the pilot and passenger seat cushion diaphragms for certain Aerostar models. The instrument mandates specific compliance timelines for different parts of the aircraft to ensure that all relevant safety measures are implemented promptly. The directive is designed to address identified safety issues and mitigate any potential risks associated with the specified aircraft models, thereby contributing to the overall goal of maintaining a safe civil aviation environment in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, apply to Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers prior to 0436, establishing stringent requirements for the inspection and modification of the pilot and passenger seat cushion diaphragm. This directive is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is mandated to ensure safety standards in civil aviation. The regulation requires compliance within specific timeframes, depending on the parts involved, with the initial inspection and modification to be completed within 25 hours of time in service after 10 November 1977 for certain parts, and within 100 hours for others. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this regulation is national, as it is a Commonwealth legislation applying across Australia. The regulation does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the specified serial numbers and timeframes, and its application is further detailed in subordinate instruments such as Ted Smith Corp. Service Bulletin No. SB600-66.12/77.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes AD/TSA-600/10 concerning the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive mandates the inspection and modification of the pilot and passenger seat cushion diaphragm for all models with serial numbers prior to 0436 (Section 1). The directive references Ted Smith Corporation Service Bulletin No. SB600-66.12/77 as the document outlining the required actions. Under this directive, the main operative sections specify the timeframes within which compliance must be achieved. Part 1 of the directive requires compliance within 25 hours of time in service following 10 November 1977, while Parts 11 and 111 of the directive require compliance within 100 hours of time in service following the same date (Section 2). Essentially, the regulation demands that certain inspections and modifications be performed on the seat cushion diaphragms to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. The obligations imposed by this Act are stringent and specific. Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel must adhere to the compliance timelines outlined in the directive. This includes conducting thorough inspections of the seat cushion diaphragms and making necessary modifications as specified in the referenced service bulletin (Section 3). The aim is to ensure that all affected aircraft meet the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/TSA-600/10 may result in serious consequences. The Act does not explicitly state penalties, but non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to severe repercussions under the broader regulatory framework, including potential grounding of the aircraft, enforcement actions, and possible civil or criminal penalties (Section 4). Given the critical nature of the modifications, any lapse in compliance could significantly compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.