Commonwealth legislation

AD/SWSA226/48 - Swivel Reading Lights - Inspection/Modification

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

2/10 complexity

This Airworthiness Directive (a mandatory safety order from the aviation regulator) requires owners of specific Fairchild Swearingen Merlin aircraft to fix a fire hazard in the cockpit or cabin reading lights.

The problem: The swivel reading lights have electrical terminals that could touch the overhead air hoses. If they short-circuit and the safety switch (circuit breaker) fails to trip, the heat could start a fire.

Who is affected: Owners and operators of Merlin III, IIIB, and IV aircraft with the specific serial numbers listed (including ranges T249–T291 and others).

What must be done: Inspect and modify the lights following the manufacturer's technical instructions (Fairchild Service Bulletin 33-003) before 31 December 1984.

Why it matters: This prevents potential in-flight fires caused by electrical faults in the cabin lighting system.

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AD/SWSA226/48 - Swivel Reading Lights - Inspection/Modification

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

View image in the official source Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes

AD/SWSA226/48 Swivel Reading Lights - Inspection/Modification 3/84

Applicability: Merlin III model SA226-T S/No. T249 through T291 except T276. Merlin IIIB model SA226-T(B) S/No. T(b) 276, T(B) 292 through T(B) 417. Merlin IV model SA226- AT S/No. AT025, AT027 through AT074.

Document: Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SB 33-003 revised 5th October 1983. Compliance: Prior to 31 December 1984.

Background: A potential short circuit between the overhead air hoses and the electrical terminals of the reading lights currently exists. If a low resistance path is established and the increase in current is insufficient to trip the circuit breaker, a fire may result.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.