AD/APU/5 Amdt 2 - Cooling Fan Assembly

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations within the country. This legislation, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, is designed to address potential safety concerns in aviation, particularly regarding the airworthiness of aircraft components. One such directive, AD/APU/5 Amendment 2, pertains specifically to the auxiliary power units (APUs) of certain Garrett Turbine Engine Company (GTEC) models, identifying the need for updates to the cooling fan assembly to prevent uncontained failures. The directive incorporates service bulletins from GTEC and references Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directives, mandating compliance within specified timeframes to enhance the safety and reliability of these APUs. The policy objective is to mitigate risks associated with fan assembly failures through timely updates and adherence to safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, addresses the application of airworthiness directives under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular legislative instrument pertains to Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) and specifically targets the cooling fan assembly of certain GTEC models. The directive applies to all GTEC models GTCP 331-200A, -200AC, -200C, -200ER, -250F, -250H, and -200P APUs equipped with a fan assembly bearing part numbers 3862160-3, -4, and 5. This requirement is mandatory and must be adhered to by all relevant entities within the specified timeframes, ensuring the safety and compliance of these aircraft components. The regulation is geographically applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by CASA, which is responsible for overseeing compliance and ensuring that all aviation safety standards are met. The directive incorporates updates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Garrett Service Bulletins, reflecting international safety standards and recommendations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 107, provide specific guidelines for airworthiness directives (AD) related to auxiliary power units (APUs) on aircraft. The particular AD/APU/5 Amendment 2 issued under this legislation focuses on the cooling fan assembly of GTEC models GTCP 331-200A, -200AC, -200C, -200ER, -250F, -250H, and -200P APUs equipped with fan assembly part numbers 3862160-3, -4, and 5 (sections 1, 2, and 3). This directive mandates that the cooling fan assembly must be modified in accordance with Garrett Turbine Engine Company Service Bulletin GTCP 331-49-5546 Revision 2 and Garrett Service Bulletin 3862160-49-5716 Revision 1. These service bulletins detail the necessary changes to the fan housing and containment ring assembly attachment to address past instances of uncontained failures. Entities and parties governed by these regulations must adhere to specific compliance timelines. Part 1 of the directive requires that the modifications be completed within 100 aircraft flight hours after 30 September 1985 but no later than 31 October 1985 (section 4). Part 2 necessitates compliance at the next removal of the modified cooling fan assembly PN 3862160-5 for any reason or within six months after 18 May 1989, whichever is sooner (section 5). Failure to comply with these timelines can result in significant safety risks and potential operational disruptions. Non-compliance with the AD/APU/5 Amendment 2 can lead to serious consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties but imply that failure to adhere to the airworthiness directives can result in aircraft being deemed unairworthy. This could potentially lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and other regulatory bodies. Such actions may include grounding the aircraft until compliance is achieved, which can have substantial financial and operational implications for the aircraft operators and owners. It is therefore imperative for all relevant parties to ensure timely and accurate compliance with the directives to avoid these potential repercussions.