COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TSA-600/39
Amdt 2
Main Cabin Upper Door 9/89
Applicability: All model Piper PA-60 and Aerostar models 600, 601, 601P, 602P and 700P with serial numbers as listed in Piper Mandatory SB 908 dated 3 May 1989.
Requirement: 1. Inspect and rig cabin door and latch system in accordance with Maintenance Manual Chapter 52 and Instruction I of Piper Mandatory SB 908.
2. Install cabin door placards in accordance with Instruction II of Piper Mandatory SB 908. Operating instructions for emergency exits (which include entrance doors) in aircraft with a seating capacity of more than six persons are required to comply with AD/GEN/4 Amdt 2 Para 5.3 (5) and Civil Aviation Orders Section 101.0 Para 3.2 (4)(e).
3. Modify the cabin door latching system by installation of a door ajar warning system in accordance with Instruction III of Piper Mandatory SB 908 or equivalent method approved by the Authority.
Note: FAA AD 89-03-04 refers to Requirements 1, 2 and 3.
4. For models 600 with S/Nos 60-0001-003 through 60-0933-8161262 and models 601 with S/Nos 61-0001-004 through 61-0880-8162157. Install cabin door linkage modification kit Piper P/N 765-387 in accordance with instruction IV of Piper Mandatory SB 908.
Compliance: 1. Unless already carried out in accordance with the previous issue of this Directive - within 100 hours time in service after 20 April 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection for issue of Maintenance release after 20 April 1989, whichever occurs later. Thereafter inspect and rig at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months from compliance with the previous or present issue of this Directive.
2. & 3. Unless already carried out in accordance with the previous issue of this Directive - within 100 hours time in service after 20 April 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection for issue of Maintenance Release after 20 April 1989 whichever occurs later.
4. Within 100 hours time in service after 7 September 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection for issue of Maintenance Release after 7 September 1989 whichever occurs later.
Background: There have been reports from overseas of accidents/incidents that have occurred because of a failure to ensure that the cabin door was closed and latched prior to take- off and improper door latching due to mis-rigging of the latch system. Amendment 1 to this Directive drew attention to Emergency Exit Opening instructions luminosity requirements, for aircraft with more than six persons seating capacity.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Amendment 2 references the latest Requirement document which supersedes both previous documents and requires, for some aircraft the fitting of a door latch improvement kit and for all aircraft a repetitive inspection on doors and mechanisms.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, introduced the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives to address safety concerns related to aircraft maintenance and operations. This regulatory framework was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the safety of civil aviation within its jurisdiction. The specific airworthiness directive, AD/TSA-600/39 Amendment 2, targets Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes, addressing issues with the main cabin upper door. The directive aims to rectify problems such as door latch failures and mis-rigging, which have led to accidents and incidents. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for all applicable aircraft, ensuring that cabin doors are properly inspected, rigged, and equipped with necessary placards and modifications as stipulated in the directive. The policy objective is to enhance the overall safety of air travel by mitigating risks associated with door latch failures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 105, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives, which includes amendments for specific aircraft types. In this context, the directive AD/TSA-600/39 Amendment 2 applies to all model Piper PA-60 and Aerostar models 600, 601, 601P, 602P and 700P with serial numbers listed in Piper Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) 908 dated 3 May 1989. The directive mandates several compliance actions, including inspecting and rigging the cabin door and latch system in accordance with the Maintenance Manual and Piper SB 908. It also requires the installation of cabin door placards and, for certain models, a cabin door linkage modification kit. Compliance with these directives must occur within 100 hours of time in service after specified dates or during the next scheduled inspection. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this directive is national, applying throughout Australia under the Commonwealth's regulatory framework. The directive extends its application through the use of subordinate instruments, such as Maintenance Manuals and Service Bulletins, to ensure specific operational and technical standards are met.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, include specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) for Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes, particularly AD/TSA-600/39 Amendment 2, which focuses on the Main Cabin Upper Door. Section (1) of the AD applies to all model Piper PA-60 and Aerostar models 600, 601, 601P, 602P, and 700P with certain serial numbers. This directive requires several key actions, detailed in Requirement sections 1 through 4. Requirement 1 mandates inspecting and rigging the cabin door and latch system in accordance with Maintenance Manual Chapter 52 and Instruction I of Piper Mandatory SB 908, which references FAA AD 89-03-04. Requirement 2 involves installing cabin door placards as per Instruction II of Piper Mandatory SB 908, ensuring compliance with AD/GEN/4 Amdt 2 Para 5.3 (5) and Civil Aviation Orders Section 101.0 Para 3.2 (4)(e) for aircraft with more than six seats. Requirement 3 necessitates modifying the cabin door latching system by installing a door ajar warning system, as per Instruction III of Piper Mandatory SB 908 or an equivalent method approved by the Authority. Lastly, Requirement 4 directs the installation of a cabin door linkage modification kit for specific model 600 and 601 aircraft, as per Instruction IV of Piper Mandatory SB 908.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this directive are clear and detailed. Operators must ensure that the cabin door and latch system are inspected and rigged within 100 hours of time in service after 20 April 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection, whichever occurs later. For cabin door placards and warning systems, the same timeline applies unless already completed under a previous directive. For specific models, the cabin door linkage modification kit must be installed within 100 hours of time in service after 7 September 1989 or at the next scheduled inspection. Additionally, these inspections and modifications must be performed at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months from the previous compliance or present issue of this directive.
Failure to comply with these AD requirements can result in significant legal and operational consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt, non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft’s Certificate of Airworthiness, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to accidents or incidents. The seriousness of these consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the outlined directives to ensure the safety of air travel.