COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (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.
Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TSA-600/46 Main Landing Gear Lower Side Brace 8/2001
Applicability: Model PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P, and PA-60-700P aircraft, serial numbers 1 through 1026.
Requirement: Replace both main landing gear lower side brace assemblies with Aerostar part number 400084-001 lower side brace assemblies, in accordance with Instructions Part II Replacement paragraph of Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-134A, dated 31 March 2000; and the Aerostar Maintenance Manual.
Note: FAA AD 2001-08-10 Amdt 39-12187 refers.
Compliance: Within 50 hours time in service after 9 August 2001, unless already accomplished.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 9 August 2001.
Background: The FAA received several reports of cracking of the main landing gear lower side brace at the upper bolt lug. Cracking was found during pre-flight inspection, and failure could lead to loss of control of the aircraft. This Directive requires replacement of existing lower side brace assemblies with parts of improved design.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 26 June 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 July 2001.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) specifically targeting the safety of Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. Enacted to address the identified issue of cracking in the main landing gear lower side brace, which posed a significant risk of loss of control during flight, this directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The policy objective of this AD, as highlighted in the background, is to ensure the safety of aircraft by mandating the replacement of the identified flawed components with improved designs, thereby mitigating the risk associated with the previously reported failures. The directive requires compliance within 50 hours of the AD's effective date, 9 August 2001, unless the required action has already been completed.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, outlines specific safety requirements for the maintenance and operation of aircraft within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 1026. The directive mandates that both main landing gear lower side brace assemblies be replaced with Aerostar part number 400084-001 assemblies, in accordance with Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-134A and the Aerostar Maintenance Manual. The directive applies to the aforementioned aircraft models and requires compliance within 50 hours of time in service following the directive's effective date of 9 August 2001. This legislative instrument extends the jurisdictional reach of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in ensuring the airworthiness and safety of aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) specified in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under Part 39, section 105, mandates certain actions for maintaining the airworthiness of specific aircraft models. This AD, numbered AD/TSA-600/46, pertains to Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 series aeroplanes. It applies to model numbers PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P, and PA-60-700P with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 1026. The directive requires that both main landing gear lower side brace assemblies be replaced with Aerostar part number 400084-001 assemblies. This replacement must follow the instructions provided in Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-134A dated 31 March 2000 and the Aerostar Maintenance Manual. The action must be completed within 50 hours of the aircraft being in service after 9 August 2001, unless the replacement has already been done.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners and operators of the affected aircraft. These parties must ensure that the required maintenance actions are undertaken promptly, adhering strictly to the instructions provided in the Aerostar Service Bulletin and Maintenance Manual. Failure to comply with this directive can result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, which could lead to severe operational restrictions or grounding of the aircraft. Operators must also ensure that the modifications are carried out by personnel who are qualified and approved according to the regulations.
Non-compliance with the AD can lead to significant consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, failure to adhere to an Airworthiness Directive can be considered an offence. The potential penalties for such breaches can include fines and, in more severe cases, imprisonment. Specifically, the maximum penalty for an individual who fails to comply with an AD can include fines up to $21,000 for a serious breach and imprisonment for up to two years. For corporations, the penalties can be significantly higher, with fines reaching up to $105,000 for serious breaches and the same imprisonment terms for responsible individuals. These stringent measures underscore the importance of adhering to the AD to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in question.