COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Hot Air Balloons
AD/BAL/20 Cameron/Thunder & Colt Pressure Relief Valves 3/99
Applicability: All pressure relief valves fitted to propane fuel cylinders supplied for flight by Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Ltd and Thunder & Colt Ltd.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the propane fuel cylinder pressure relief valve in accordance with the instructions in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4.
2. Replace the pressure relief valve in accordance with the instructions in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4.
Note: UK CAA AD 002-11-98 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, within six months of the effective date of this Directive or at the annual inspection, whichever occurs sooner, and thereafter every twelve months.
2. a. On any occasion when corrosion is detected during the inspection at Requirement 1 above, or
2. b. Every 10 years during recertification of the gas cylinder in accordance with AS 2030.1 - 1989 (see Note) as required by AD/BAL/3 Amdt 1, or
2. c. If the pressure relief valve is older than ten years at the time of the inspection at
1) above. If the pressure valve has been replaced before the ten yearly recertification of the gas cylinder falls due, the pressure valve may be retained and replaced when it reaches ten years in service.
Note: AS 2030.1-1989 does not apply to aviation gas cylinders under normal circumstances. For the purposes of this Directive, the test standards called up in AS2030 for LPG cylinders are to be applied in full (as specified in AD/BAL/3 Amdt 3).
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 March 1999.
Background: Experience in the United Kingdom has shown that, in the absence of legislation such as AS2030, operators were not inspecting the gas fittings on their balloons on a regular basis for serviceability. This has resulted in several serious incidents. This Directive is based upon a UK CAA AD introduced to ensure regular inspection of LPG gas fittings for integrity and absence of corrosion.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, provide the legal framework for civil aviation safety and operations within Australia. The specific legislative instrument F2006B03559, known as an Airworthiness Directive (AD), was introduced to address the safety concerns associated with Cameron/Thunder & Colt pressure relief valves on propane fuel cylinders used in hot air balloons. This instrument aims to ensure that such components are regularly inspected and maintained to prevent incidents related to corrosion or failure. The AD is issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to mandate the inspection and replacement of these pressure relief valves to maintain airworthiness standards and prevent potential hazards. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of hot air balloon operations by implementing rigorous maintenance requirements based on international best practices and incident prevention.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to all pressure relief valves fitted to propane fuel cylinders that are supplied for flight by Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Ltd and Thunder & Colt Ltd. This regulation mandates that these pressure relief valves must be inspected and, if necessary, replaced according to the instructions provided in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4. The directive aims to ensure the safety of hot air balloons by addressing the risk of corrosion and malfunction of these critical components. Compliance with this directive is required within six months of its effective date or at the annual inspection, whichever is sooner, and must be repeated every twelve months. Additionally, the directive requires immediate replacement if corrosion is detected during inspection, every 10 years during the recertification of the gas cylinder, or if the valve is older than ten years at the time of inspection. This directive extends to the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Any exemptions or exclusions from this regulation are not specified within the text, implying that all applicable balloons and cylinders must comply with the outlined requirements.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105, address the safety of hot air balloons through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Airworthiness Directives. Specifically, AD/BAL/20 mandates the inspection and replacement of pressure relief valves fitted to propane fuel cylinders supplied by Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Ltd and Thunder & Colt Ltd (section 3/99). Operators must inspect these valves according to the instructions in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4 and replace them as specified in the same bulletin (section 1). This directive references UK CAA AD 002-11-98 for further guidance.
Compliance with AD/BAL/20 is mandatory for all applicable balloons. Operators must conduct the initial inspection and replacement within six months of the directive's effective date (25 March 1999) or at the annual inspection, whichever is sooner, and then every twelve months thereafter (section 1). Additionally, inspections and replacements are required if corrosion is detected during any inspection, every ten years during the recertification of the gas cylinder in accordance with AS 2030.1 - 1989, or if the pressure relief valve is older than ten years at the time of inspection (section 2). If a replacement occurs before the ten-year recertification period, the new valve may remain in service until it reaches ten years of use.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/BAL/20 could result in serious safety issues, as evidenced by incidents in the United Kingdom where the absence of such legislation led to several serious incidents. The directive aims to ensure that gas fittings are regularly inspected for integrity and freedom from corrosion. While the regulations do not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to CASA's airworthiness directives can lead to severe consequences, including grounding of the aircraft, potential grounding of the operator, and other regulatory actions by CASA. The ultimate penalty for non-compliance could be the prohibition of the balloon from flying, which has significant operational and financial implications for operators.