AD/General/84 Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Materials (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the 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.

Aircraft - General

AD/GENERAL/84 Thermal/Acoustic Insulation Materials 4/2005

Applicability:

All aeroplanes with Transport Category Certificates of Airworthiness; but excluding aeroplanes whose Certificate of Airworthiness is based on compliance with CAO 101.4; and excluding aeroplanes of a type for which at least one example received an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness prior to 1 January 1958.

Requirement:

1.    (a)   For applicable aeroplanes manufactured before 2 September 2005, when thermal/acoustic insulation materials are installed in the fuselage as replacements after 2 September 2005, those materials must meet the flame propagation requirements of FAR 25.856, effective 2 September 2003.

(b)   For applicable aeroplanes manufactured after 2 September 2005, thermal/acoustic insulation materials installed in the fuselage must meet the flame propagation requirements of FAR 25.856, effective 2 September 2003.

2.    For applicable aeroplanes manufactured after 3 September 2007, with a passenger capacity of 20 or greater and are used in operations under CAO 82.3 or CAO 82.5, thermal/acoustic insulation materials installed in the lower half of the fuselage must meet the flame penetration resistance requirements of FAR 25.856, effective 2 September 2003.

Note:  FAR 25.856, 91.613, 121.312, 125.113, and 135.170 refer.

Compliance:

1.     (a)   Aeroplanes manufactured before 2 September 2005, when thermal/acoustic insulation materials are installed in the fuselage as replacements after 2 September 2005.

(b)   Aeroplanes manufactured after 2 September 2005, when thermal/acoustic insulation materials are installed in the fuselage.

2:    Aeroplanes manufactured after 3 September 2007, when thermal/acoustic insulation materials are installed in the lower half of the fuselage.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 14 April 2005.

Background: The FAA is adopting upgraded flammability standards for thermal and acoustic insulation materials used in transport category aeroplanes.  These standards include new flammability tests and criteria that address flame propagation and entry of an external fire into the airplane.  This action is necessary because the current standards do not realistically address situations in which thermal or acoustic insulation materials may contribute to the propagation of a fire.  This action is intended to enhance safety by reducing the incidence and severity of cabin fires, particularly those in inaccessible areas where thermal and acoustic insulation materials are installed, and providing additional time for evacuation by delaying the entry of post-crash fires into the cabin.

Neville Probert
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

24 February 2005