AD/AL 250/59 Amdt 3 - Outer Combustion Case Assemblies P/N 6899237 and 23009569

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), were enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation, updated through various amendments, addresses specific safety concerns and compliance issues within the aviation industry. One such amendment, F2006B02270, pertains to Allison Turbine Engines of the 250 Series, particularly focusing on the inspection and potential modification or replacement of outer combustion case assemblies. This amendment responds to identified safety issues with certain engine models, ensuring that specific maintenance directives, originally set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are implemented within Australia to maintain airworthiness standards. The policy objective is to ensure that these engines meet safety standards through rigorous and timely inspections and maintenance procedures. The specific legislative instrument F2006B02270 aims to align Australian regulations with international safety standards, particularly those set by the FAA. It requires adherence to FAA AD 85-25-07 R1, with certain modifications, for the inspection and potential replacement of outer combustion case assemblies in specific Allison 250 Series engine models. This ensures that any potential defects or issues with these assemblies are identified and rectified promptly, thereby maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft. The requirement for daily inspections by appropriately licensed personnel or pilots holding a Maintenance Authority ensures that these safety standards are consistently met.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, applies to all Model 250-C28B, -C28C, -C30, -C30P, -C30R, and -C30S engines that incorporate outer combustion case assemblies P/N 6899237 and 230095693/86. The regulation mandates compliance with FAA A.D. 85-25-07 R1 Amendment 39-5188 as revised by the letter dated 22 January 1986. This includes specific daily inspection requirements for these engines, which can be performed and certified by a pilot in command if they hold a Maintenance Authority (M.A.) related to these inspections, provided there is no appropriately licensed LAME available. The directive specifies a modification to paragraph (b) for Model 250-C30 and -C30S engines installed in Sikorsky Model S-76A Helicopters, extending the inspection period to 150 hours’ time-in-service after 7 February 1986 but not later than 5 March 1986. Compliance with these regulations is essential to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the affected aircraft engines.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, establish a schedule of airworthiness directives under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such directive, AD/AL 250/59 Amendment 3, concerns Allison Turbine Engines - 250 Series, focusing on the outer combustion case assemblies P/N 6899237 and 23009569 (section 1). This directive applies to all Model 250-C28B, -C28C, -C30, -C30P, -C30R and -C30S engines incorporating these specific parts (section 2). The requirement document for this directive is FAA A.D. 85-25-07 R1 Amendment 39-5188, as revised by a letter dated 22 January 1986 (section 3). Notably, in the absence of an appropriately licensed licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME), the daily inspection can be conducted and certified by the pilot in command if they hold a Maintenance Authority (M.A.) related to the daily inspection requirement of this directive (section 4). Compliance with these directives must adhere to FAA AD-85-25-07 R1, with a specific exception noted for Model 250-C30 and -C30S engines installed in Sikorsky Model S-76A Helicopters, which must undergo inspection within 150 hours’ time-in-service after 7 February 1986 but no later than 5 March 1986 (section 5). The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties it governs include ensuring that all applicable Allison 250-C28B, -C28C, -C30, -C30P, -C30R and -C30S engines are inspected and maintained in accordance with the specified FAA requirements (section 6). Owners and operators must ensure that the daily inspections are carried out by an appropriately licensed LAME or, if necessary, by the pilot in command who holds a Maintenance Authority (section 7). Any findings from these inspections must be documented, and a copy of the inspection details must be attached to the Maintenance Release document (section 8). Additionally, the directive mandates that any modifications or replacements of suspect outer combustion case assemblies P/N 6899237 and 23009569 must be performed in compliance with the FAA AD 85-25-07 R1 Amendment 39-5188 (section 9). Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this airworthiness directive can result in serious consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the grounding of affected aircraft, which can have significant operational and financial implications for operators (section 10). Additionally, CASA has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance, which may include fines or other civil penalties as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (section 11). In severe cases, continued non-compliance could result in criminal charges, leading to imprisonment or substantial fines under Australian law (section 12). The specific penalties for breaches of these regulations can vary, but they are designed to ensure that all aviation safety requirements are strictly adhered to in order to protect the public and maintain the integrity of the aviation industry (section 13).