AGAIR Gulfstream 690 and 695 aircraft were operated with known defects without being recorded on the aircrafts’ maintenance release, likely as a routine practice. For VH-HPY, the absence of documented historical information limited the ability to assess the operational impact of the pressurisation defect and the effectiveness of maintenance rectification activities.
The ATSB considers that the changes described by AGAIR in engaging and CAMO and new HAAMC, along with improvements to procedures and training, will likely adequately address this safety issue.
AGAIR advised the ATSB that the HOFO reviewed the maintenance releases of all aircraft and sought information about unrecorded defects. The HOFO also ‘discussed with each pilot the requirement to record defects on the Maintenance Release’. AGAIR also stated that an ‘alert’ has been sent via the Air Maestro portal that included ‘CASA produced documents providing guidance material on Maintenance Release administrative procedures and defect reporting’ and that the matter was logged in the ‘safety reporting module’ for ‘company personnel in conjunction with the Safety Manager to review and provide input’.
Additionally, the operations manual has been amended to state ‘pilots must report defects and damage to the HAAMC, or the HAAMC’s representative’, pilot proficiency check forms have been updated ‘to reflect that adequate training is included around aircraft defect notification and administration’, and the operations manual exam has been amended to include ‘questions to ensure pilots are aware that defects or damage must be entered in the appropriate section of the maintenance release’.
AGAIR has also completed a ‘full review of maintenance control oversight’ and contracted a continuing airworthiness management organisation (CAMO) to ‘provide oversight and independent monitoring of airworthiness management’. AGAIR has also appointed a new HAAMC with ‘LAME [(licenced aircraft maintenance engineer)] qualifications and CASA delegations from within the CAMO’. AGAIR stated the new HAAMC is ‘monitoring defect reporting across all sectors of the operations, providing education and clarification as required and reporting to the Safety Manager any matters that may arise’.
