AD/CF6/34 - Fan Reverser Centre Drive Unit

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, include provisions under Part 39 – 106, which address the safety of aircraft and their components, including turbine engines. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in Australia. One such directive, AD/CF6/34, pertains to the General Electric Turbine Engines of the CF6 series, specifically focusing on the fan reverser centre drive unit. This directive was introduced to address a potential safety issue where a manufacturing error in the centre drive unit could cause the fan reverser translating cowl to move towards the deploy position in flight, posing a significant risk during operations. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate corrective actions to prevent such occurrences, ensuring the highest safety standards in civil aviation. The directive requires compliance with the technical requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through AD 95-10-11 Amdt 39-9228, with a revised effective date of 12 October 1995. CASA has aligned its regulations with these FAA directives, ensuring that any modifications or inspections are performed according to stringent safety protocols. This legislative measure aims to mitigate risks associated with the identified manufacturing defect, thereby safeguarding the integrity and safety of aircraft operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 106, applies to all CF6-80C2 series engine installations that are used in aircraft operations within Australia. This legislation mandates compliance with the technical requirements set forth in FAA AD 95-10-11 Amdt 39-9228, which addresses a critical safety issue identified with the centre drive unit (CDU) of the General Electric Turbine Engines - CF6 Series. The regulation requires corrective actions to be taken in alignment with these requirements to mitigate the risk of the fan reverser translating cowl moving towards the deploy position during flight, a situation that could potentially compromise aircraft safety. This regulation is applicable to any entity or individual involved in the maintenance or operation of aircraft equipped with the specified engine series, ensuring adherence to stringent safety standards set by both Australian and international aviation authorities. The regulations extend their reach to ensure comprehensive safety measures are observed across the civil aviation sector in Australia, with compliance verified through specific documentation and adherence to the amended effective date of 12 October 1995.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, includes the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD). The AD/CF6/34 pertains to General Electric Turbine Engines, specifically the CF6 series. The directive addresses issues with the fan reverser centre drive unit (CDU) in CF6-80C2 series engine installations (section 1). This AD requires actions to be taken in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 95-10-11 Amdt 39-9228, which corresponds to Martin Marietta CF6-80C2 Service Bulletin No. 78-1002 Revision 1 (section 2). Compliance must be achieved with these technical requirements, with the revised effective date being 12 October 1995 (section 3). The AD imposes several obligations on the parties or entities it governs. These include ensuring that the technical requirements specified in FAA AD 95-10-11 Amdt 39-9228 are meticulously followed to rectify the identified issue with the CDU. This involves inspecting and potentially repairing or replacing the CDU to prevent any manufacturing errors that could lead to the fan reverser translating cowl moving towards the deploy position during flight. The AD also mandates that any maintenance work is carried out by appropriately qualified personnel and that detailed records of compliance are maintained (section 4). Non-compliance with the AD/CF6/34 could result in significant consequences. The primary risk is the potential for the fan reverser translating cowl to move towards the deploy position while in flight, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. The regulations do not specify particular offences or penalties within the text provided, but it is reasonable to infer that any breaches of CASA directives are likely to be subject to enforcement actions by CASA. Such actions could include fines, sanctions, or even the grounding of aircraft that do not meet the required airworthiness standards (section 5).