AD/FPE/8 Amdt 1 Fire Bottle Discharge Cartridges Inspection (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the commencement date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below repeals Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/FPE/8 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct an 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.

Fire Protection Equipment

AD/FPE/8 Amdt 1 Fire Bottle Discharge Cartridges - Inspection 24/2017

Applicability:

1.    Walter Kidde discharge cartridges P/N 873571, 876296, 897776 and 898558 manufactured prior to July 1984.

2.    Overland Aviation Service Company discharge cartridges P/N OA873571, OA876296 and OA876299 manufactured prior to 7 August 1984.

Requirement:

1.    (a)   Electrically isolate fire bottle discharge cartridge circuit.

(b)   Remove electrical connector and inspect receptacle of cartridge for presence of aluminium foil. Remove any aluminium foil from cartridge receptacle.

Note 1:  Foil may be crushed and have the appearance of solder.

(c)   Replace cartridge electrical connector and return fire bottle discharge circuit to normal.

2.    Prior to fitment to an aircraft, inspect fire bottle discharge cartridge electrical receptacle for presence of aluminium foil and remove foil if detected.

Note 2:  FAA AD 84-18-07 AMDT 39-4915 refers.

Compliance:

For Requirement 1:  Within 30 days after the commencement date of this Directive, unless previously accomplished.

For Requirement 2:  Before fitment of an affected cartridge to an aircraft.

Note 3:  Previous compliance with the requirements in AD/FPE/8 constitutes compliance with the equivalent requirements in this AD.

This AD commences on 1 December 2017.

Background:

Some of the above designated discharge cartridges were shipped from the manufacturers with aluminium foil inserted in the electrical receptacle in such a manner that its presence is not obvious to the recipient. Fitment of the aircraft electrical connector is possible with the foil present. In these circumstances the aircraft fire bottle may not discharge if required in an emergency.

Amendment 1 of this AD is issued to align the applicability with that of FAA AD 84‑18-07 by removing Overland Aviation Service Company P/N OA841155.

Ben Wilson
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

28 November 2017