AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 Engine Compressor Module - Removal from Service

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2020L00555 In force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 - Engine Compressor Module - Removal from Service

Legislation

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation relating to safety, amongst other things. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product.

Subsection 98 (5D) of the Act provides that a legislative instrument made under the Act or the regulations may apply, adopt or incorporate any matter contained in any instrument or other writing as in force or existing from time to time, even if the other instrument or writing does not yet exist when the legislative instrument is made.

Under subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft.

CASA issued AD/AL 250/91 to correct an unsafe situation on aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engines on 17 March 2020 in response to a recent audit of a New Zealand maintenance organisation by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA) which determined that compressor module inspections and repairs of these modules may not have been carried out in accordance with approved Rolls-Royce procedures. The NZ CAA had published AD DCA/AL250/60 to correct this unsafe condition for New Zealand registered aircraft. The NZ CAA had since revised their AD and issued DCA/AL250/60A to add another series of compressor module, introduce additional serial numbers to each module series and make minor editorial changes throughout the text and CASA issued AD/AL 250/90 Amdt 1 to incorporate equivalent changes to its AD. The NZ CAA have now revised their AD and issued DCA/AL250/60B to add compressor module C47 serial number CAC44094 to the applicability of their AD and CASA is issuing AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 to incorporate equivalent changes. This AD repeals and replaces the previous AD on this subject to incorporate these changes.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

There are no documents incorporated by reference. NZ CAA AD DCA/AL250/60B is listed as a source document for two tables of affected compressor modules. This AD is freely available at the following internet address:

https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/aircraft/airworthiness-directives/Airw-Dir-Sched-20-04.pdf

Consultation

CASA has not consulted with the Australian aviation industry and the general public regarding AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 as the affected part is known to be currently located in the United States of America and there is no impact on operators of aircraft currently on the Australian aircraft register. The amendment of the AD is to ensure that operators take appropriate action if the affected part is ever imported into Australia.

Regulation Impact Statement

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs (OBPR id. 14507).

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

Making and commencement

The AD has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

The instrument commences on 8 May 2020.

[Instrument number AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2]


Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 - Engine Compressor Module - Removal from Service

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the legislative instrument

The legislative instrument is an airworthiness directive (AD). AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 has been issued to require removal from service of certain Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engine compressor modules which may not have had inspections or repairs carried out in accordance with manufacturer approved procedures.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, amended by AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2, address the problem of potential non-compliance with manufacturer-approved procedures for inspections and repairs of Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engine compressor modules, thereby ensuring the continuing airworthiness of affected aircraft. Enacted by the Australian Government, this legislative instrument is designed to align with international standards set by the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to maintain the safety and reliability of civil aviation operations within Australia. The policy objective is to correct an unsafe situation identified through an audit of a New Zealand maintenance organisation, ensuring that any affected compressor modules are appropriately addressed when imported into Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), acting under the powers conferred by the Civil Aviation Act 1988, issued this amendment to incorporate changes made by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, ensuring consistency and safety across the aviation industry.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2, apply to aircraft operators and maintenance personnel who handle aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engines, specifically those with compressor modules identified as needing removal from service. The regulation mandates the removal of certain compressor modules from service to address safety concerns related to inspections and repairs not being conducted in accordance with approved procedures. The scope of the regulation is national, affecting all aircraft registered in Australia that are equipped with the specified engine types. The regulation does not apply to aircraft currently operating in Australia if the affected compressor modules are not installed; it is intended to ensure preparedness for any future import of such aircraft. The AD does not include any exclusions or exemptions but rather focuses on ensuring that affected modules are identified and removed from service when they are present. Subordinate instruments may extend or refine the application of this directive, ensuring compliance with international safety standards as set out in the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended by AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2, focus on ensuring the safety of aircraft operations in Australia by mandating specific actions concerning engine compressor modules. Section 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) empowers the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue airworthiness directives (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2, issued under this authority, requires the removal from service of certain Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engine compressor modules that may not have been inspected or repaired in accordance with approved procedures. This directive is made under the overarching authority provided by section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which allows for the creation of regulations to enforce safety standards in line with the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The AD imposes specific obligations on aircraft operators, maintenance organisations, and other entities involved with aircraft fitted with the specified Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series engine compressor modules. Operators and maintenance personnel must conduct thorough inspections of the affected compressor modules and remove any modules identified as not being compliant with approved procedures from service. This requirement is intended to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft by addressing potential safety issues related to these compressor modules. Operators must also ensure that any identified non-compliant modules are either repaired in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures or replaced with compliant modules before the aircraft can return to service. In terms of consequences for non-compliance, AD/AL 250/91 Amdt 2 does not explicitly detail specific civil or criminal penalties for breach within the document provided. However, under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant penalties. These can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety. CASA has the authority to enforce compliance through administrative actions, including the suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and may also refer serious cases to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. Operators found in breach of such directives risk severe financial penalties and potential grounding of their aircraft, which can have substantial operational and reputational impacts.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.