COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes
AD/BEECH 200/37 Nacelle Fuel Tank Probe 11/81
Applicability: All models.
Requirement: 1. Remove fuel quantity probe from L/H and R/H nacelle fuel tanks, wipe clean of all moisture and contaminants and wash thoroughly in clean kerosene.
2. Drain and flush L/H and R/H nacelle fuel tanks.
3. Replace fuel quantity probes and, on refuelling nacelle tanks, note that tank quantities match fuel quantity indicators.
Compliance: For aircraft which have achieved 1900 hours time in service: within 100 hours time in service after 20 October 1981. For aircraft which have achieved less than 1900 hours time in service: before achieving 2000 hours time in service. Thereafter the requirement shall be carried out at intervals not exceeding 2000 hours time in service OR twelve months, whichever is the lesser.
Background: It has been found that water contamination of the nacelle fuel tank quantity probes will cause a high indication, even with empty tanks.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, incorporates the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directives, such as AD/BEECH 200/37, which addresses the issue of nacelle fuel tank probe contamination for Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes. This legislation was enacted to ensure that water contamination of the fuel quantity probes, which can result in incorrect fuel quantity readings, is effectively managed to maintain airworthiness and safety standards. The policy objective is to prevent potential hazards and ensure the safe operation of aircraft by mandating regular maintenance and cleaning of fuel quantity probes and nacelle fuel tanks.
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted by the Australian Parliament to regulate civil aviation and ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel within Australian airspace. The specific directive AD/BEECH 200/37 was introduced to address the problem of water contamination in the fuel tanks of Beechcraft 200 series aircraft, which can lead to inaccurate fuel readings and potential safety risks. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and requires regular maintenance intervals to ensure the probes and tanks are free from contaminants, thus maintaining the integrity of the aircraft's fuel system.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 105, establishes Airworthiness Directives (ADs) which apply to all aircraft registered in Australia. One such AD, AD/BEECH 200/37, pertains to Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series aeroplanes and mandates the maintenance of nacelle fuel tanks to ensure continued airworthiness. This directive applies to all models of the Beechcraft 200 series aeroplanes. The requirements outlined in AD/BEECH 200/37 include the removal, cleaning, and replacement of fuel quantity probes in the left and right nacelle fuel tanks, as well as the draining and flushing of these tanks. The directive specifies compliance timelines based on the aircraft’s accumulated time in service, necessitating action either within 100 hours after reaching 1900 hours for aircraft with more than 1900 hours, or before reaching 2000 hours for those with less than 1900 hours. After these initial periods, the maintenance must be performed at intervals not exceeding 2000 hours or twelve months, whichever is less. The directive aims to mitigate the risk of erroneous fuel quantity readings caused by water contamination in the nacelle fuel tanks.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, address the safety directives for Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes, focusing on the nacelle fuel tank probe. According to AD/BEECH 200/37, the directive mandates the removal and cleaning of fuel quantity probes from both the left-hand (L/H) and right-hand (R/H) nacelle fuel tanks, followed by their thorough washing in clean kerosene. Furthermore, the left-hand and right-hand nacelle fuel tanks must be drained and flushed. Upon completing these steps, the fuel quantity probes should be replaced, and it is imperative to ensure that the tank quantities match the fuel quantity indicators during the refuelling of nacelle tanks.
These provisions impose specific obligations on the operators and owners of Beechcraft 200 (Super King Air) Series Aeroplanes. Operators must ensure that the maintenance of the fuel quantity probes and nacelle fuel tanks adheres strictly to the outlined procedures. For aircraft that have accumulated 1900 hours of time in service, the compliance must be achieved within 100 hours following 20 October 1981. For aircraft with less than 1900 hours of time in service, compliance must be achieved before reaching 2000 hours of time in service. Following this, the requirement must be carried out at intervals not exceeding 2000 hours of time in service or twelve months, whichever is the lesser.
Failure to comply with these safety directives can result in significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties within this section. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft certificates, and potential criminal charges against individuals or entities responsible for the non-compliance. The exact penalties for non-compliance are detailed in other sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations, which could encompass substantial fines and imprisonment depending on the severity and intent behind the breach.