53Investigation of defects of Australian aircraft

#### 53 Investigation of defects of Australian aircraft (1) An authorised person may, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of air navigation, conduct an investigation into any matter connected with any defect in an Australian aircraft (including the making of a test of an aircraft or of any aircraft component installed or provided in an aircraft). (2) An investigation under subregulation (1) may extend to defects generally or may be limited to the investigation of a particular defect or a particular kind of defect. (3) The authorised person may, for the purposes of carrying out the investigation: (a) by order in writing served on a person, require the production to the first‑mentioned person of any documents, aircraft components or other things that are in the possession, or under the control, of the person on whom the order is served; (b) retain any document, aircraft component or other thing produced during the course of the investigation for such period as is necessary for the purpose of carrying out the investigation; and (c) make and retain copies of, or take extracts from, any document so produced. (3A) A person must comply with an order. Penalty: 10 penalty units. (3B) An offence against subregulation (3A) is an offence of strict liability. > Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code. (4) Where the retention of a document, aircraft component or other thing produced for the purposes of an investigation is no longer necessary, CASA or the authorised person shall return the document, aircraft component or other thing to the person by whom it was produced.