Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within the country. One specific legislative instrument under this act is F2006B02227, which was introduced to address safety concerns related to the airworthiness of certain aircraft components. This particular instrument focuses on the air conditioning equipment in helicopters, specifically targeting the compressor wheel and scroll of ABG Semca cold air units installed in Aerospatiale AS332 helicopters. The problem it was introduced to address is the deterioration of these components due to the erosion of rivets that attach the shield to the compressor gasket, a risk identified through French AD 91-254(AB) and referenced in ABG SEMCA Service Bulletin No. 3502-21-01 R1. The policy objective is to mandate compliance with these technical requirements to maintain the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft within 100 hours after the directive's issuance on 21 June 1992.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 107, mandates the adherence to Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft in Australia. This particular legislation applies to airconditioning equipment, specifically the ABG Semca Cold Air Unit - Compressor Wheel and Scroll, in Aerospatiale AS332 helicopters, although it is not limited to this type of helicopter. The directive requires compliance with the technical requirements of French AD 91-254(AB) for ABG SEMCA cold air units P/N 3202 A0101 and 3202 B0101 installed in airconditioning pack P/N 3502 A03 and 3502 D01 as installed on, but not limited to, Aerospatiale AS332 helicopters. This action is imperative to prevent deterioration of the compressor wheel and scroll due to erosion of the heads of rivets attaching the shield to the compressor gasket. Compliance with these directives must be achieved within 100 hours after 21 June 1992, with reference to ABG SEMCA Service Bulletin No. 3502-21-01 R1 for further details. The regulation extends its jurisdictional reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all relevant helicopter operators within the nation adhere to these safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that mandate compliance for certain aircraft equipment. One such directive, AD/AIRCON/11, pertains to the ABG Semca Cold Air Unit for compressor wheels and scrolls. This directive applies to Aerospatiale AS332 helicopters, although it is not limited to this type (s 107.01). The directive requires action in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in French AD 91-254(AB) for ABG SEMCA cold air units with specific part numbers (s 107.02). The directive mandates that these units must be installed in the airconditioning pack with certain part numbers and installed on, but not limited to, Aerospatiale AS332 helicopters (s 107.03). The Civil Aviation Safety Authority imposes several obligations on parties governed by these regulations. Operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the specified cold air units are modified or replaced in compliance with the technical requirements of French AD 91-254(AB). This includes adhering to the guidance provided in ABG SEMCA Service Bulletin No. 3502-21-01 R1. Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours after the directive's effective date of 21 June 1992 (s 107.04). The directive's purpose is to prevent compressor wheel and scroll deterioration due to erosion of rivet heads that attach the shield to the compressor gasket, thereby ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft (s 107.05). Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/AIRCON/11 may result in serious consequences. Non-compliance can be considered a breach of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, potentially leading to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The consequences may include fines and other penalties as prescribed by the regulations. The specific maximum penalties for such breaches are not detailed in the provided text, but generally, the authority may impose significant sanctions for non-compliance with airworthiness directives (s 107.06).