COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer Series Aeroplanes
AD/VAT/28
Amdt 7
Wing Spar and Wing Spar Attachment and Fittings 7/92
Applicability: All models.
Requirement: l. Prepare the aircraft for inspection by either:
- Removing the wing from the fuselage, removing the fuel tank access panel, and derivetting the wing bay skins adjacent to the tank bay, or
b. In accordance with a Scheme approved by the Authority provide permanent access to:
- the wing to fuselage rear attachment fittings and lower fuselage longerons; and
ii. port and stbd wing bays adjacent to the fuel tank bay.
2. Inspect for wear, corrosion and cracking of:
- the fuselage attachment bolts,
b. wing attachment fittings and bushes, and
c. lower fuselage longerons in the area of the wing rear attachment points.
3. Inspect the rear spar carry through for corrosion within the tank bay and immediately adjacent to the wing ribs in the adjacent wing bays, paying particular attention to associated hardware brackets and doublers. The inspection shall be carried out using access gained by:
- removing the fuel tank to the forward end of the tank bay, and
b. the scheme approved for Requirement l.b. above.
4. Inspect the laminated tank underpan upper and lower surfaces for corrosion and core integrity. Discrete drain holes from the tank bay may need to be installed to prevent moisture accumulation in a replacement panel. Modify and/or repair in accordance with a scheme approved by the Authority.
5. All inspections shall be carried out using a strong light source and those inspections required for crack detection with a magnifying glass of l0x or greater.
Note: AUTO AVIA DESIGN EIS 90/089/EII is a scheme acceptable to the Authority for Requirement 1b compliance; and provides additional information to achieve compliance with Requirements 2, 3, and 4.
Compliance: 1a. Within 6 years time in service after last compliance in accordance with a previous issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years time in service; until modified in accordance with Requirement 1b.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
2. Within 6 years time in service after last compliance in accordance with a previous issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years time in service.
3. For New Zealand manufactured aircraft with the following serial numbers; 514, 515, A523, A532, A537R, A548, A554, B558, B559, B570, B571, B573, and B574:
Within 12 years time in service after last compliance in accordance with a previous issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 years time in service.
For Australian manufactured aircraft:
Within 6 years time in service after last compliance in accordance with a previous issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years time in service.
4. Within 6 years time in service after last compliance in accordance with a previous issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 years time in service.
Note: Approved repairs restoring the structure to original strength and incorporation of an approved corrosion prevention scheme extends the repeat inspection to a period no greater than 12 years.
The compliance of the previous issue of this Directive was: repetitive inspection periods of 3 years for Requirements 1, 2, 3, and 4. This Amendment is effective
from 25 June 1992.
Background: Amendment 6 reflected the outcome of the melding of operator and Authority requirements following submissions to, and investigation by, the Authority.
Requirement l obviated the need to remove the wing from the aircraft. Requirement 2 reflected the necessity to still inspect but used a simpler procedure which recognised the aircraft’s current usage. Requirements 3 and 4 provided for extended inspection periodicities at an awkward inspection area.
Amendment 7 is issued as a result of a review of this Directive; following a fleetwide survey of AD inspection findings conducted by the Type Certificate Holder.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, were introduced to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 of these regulations addresses airworthiness directives, which are mandatory requirements for the continued airworthiness of aircraft. Amendment 7 to Airworthiness Directive AD/VAT/28, which focuses on Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer Series Aeroplanes, was introduced to address issues related to the structural integrity of these aircraft. This amendment aims to provide more efficient and practical inspection procedures while maintaining high safety standards. By revising the inspection intervals and methods, Amendment 7 seeks to balance operational efficiency with the imperative of ensuring the aircraft's continued airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 105, outlines the requirements for airworthiness directives concerning Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer series aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the wing spar and wing spar attachments and fittings. This regulation applies to all models of these aircraft, requiring regular inspections to ensure safety and airworthiness. The scope of this legislation covers the inspection of fuselage attachment bolts, wing attachment fittings and bushes, and lower fuselage longerons, along with the rear spar carry-through within the tank bay and adjacent wing bays, and the laminated tank underpan. The inspection intervals vary, generally requiring compliance every six years from the last inspection, though specific requirements for certain New Zealand-manufactured aircraft extend this period to twelve years. The regulations also allow for the use of schemes approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for conducting inspections, with a specific scheme (AUTO AVIA DESIGN EIS 90/089/EII) mentioned as acceptable for certain compliance measures. This legislation ensures that the aircraft maintain their airworthiness through regular, thorough inspections and approved maintenance practices.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates detailed inspection requirements for the Victa and A.E.S.L. Airtourer Series Aeroplanes, particularly focusing on the wing spar and its attachments and fittings (AD/VAT/28Amdt 7). These requirements are essential for ensuring the continued airworthiness of the aircraft and are applicable to all models of the specified aeroplanes. The directive requires the aircraft to be prepared for inspection either by removing the wing from the fuselage and other specified components or by providing permanent access to the specified areas in accordance with an approved scheme (section 1). Inspections must cover the fuselage attachment bolts, wing attachment fittings and bushes, and lower fuselage longerons for signs of wear, corrosion, and cracking (section 2). Additionally, the rear spar carry through within the tank bay and immediately adjacent to the wing ribs in the adjacent wing bays must be inspected for corrosion, with access provided by removing the fuel tank and using an approved scheme (section 3). The laminated tank underpan must also be inspected for corrosion and core integrity, with modifications or repairs made in accordance with an approved scheme (section 4). All inspections must be conducted using a strong light source and magnifying glasses for crack detection.
The obligations under these regulations require operators to ensure that the specified inspections are conducted at regular intervals. For Australian-manufactured aircraft, inspections must be carried out within six years of the last compliance and then at intervals not exceeding six years (section 1a). For New Zealand-manufactured aircraft with specific serial numbers, the inspection intervals are extended to twelve years from the last compliance, then at intervals not exceeding twelve years (section 3). Repairs that restore the structure to its original strength and include an approved corrosion prevention scheme can extend the repeat inspection period to twelve years (section 4). Failure to comply with these requirements can result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to structural failures during flight, which could have catastrophic consequences.
Breaches of these airworthiness directives can lead to severe civil and criminal penalties. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, operators found to be in non-compliance may face fines and other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The maximum penalties for non-compliance can include substantial fines, which are determined based on the severity and impact of the non-compliance. In the most severe cases, non-compliance can also lead to criminal charges, resulting in imprisonment, particularly if the non-compliance is found to have caused an accident or incident. These stringent measures are in place to ensure that all operators adhere to the highest standards of aircraft maintenance and safety.