Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, encompass safety directives essential for maintaining airworthiness standards in Australian aviation. The regulation in question, AD/CF6/9, pertains to the General Electric Turbine Engines of the CF6 series, focusing on the high-pressure turbine impeller spacer and the necessity for eddy current inspections. Enacted by the Australian Government, this regulation aims to address the safety issue of fatigue cracks in the impeller spacers, which can lead to high stress low cycle fatigue (LCF). By mandating an eddy current inspection process as per General Electric Service Bulletin SB72-906, and stipulating the removal of affected components from service, the regulation seeks to enhance the reliability and safety of these critical engine parts. The policy objective is to ensure that these inspections are performed in line with the more stringent requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as detailed in FAA AD 87-23-06, thus maintaining high safety standards within the aviation industry.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, applies to entities and persons involved in the operation and maintenance of aircraft equipped with General Electric Turbine Engines, CF6 Series, such as the CF6-50/-45 Series. This includes aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation mandates an eddy current inspection of impeller spacers in accordance with the detailed requirements set out in General Electric Service Bulletin SB72-906, ensuring compliance with the stringent safety standards stipulated in FAA AD 87-23-06 General Electric: Amendment 39-5746, effective from 1 December 1987. This Act ensures that the identified components are inspected and potentially removed from service to prevent fatigue cracks originating from high stress low cycle fatigue, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft. This regulation extends its reach nationally, impacting all aircraft operating under Australian jurisdiction that use the specified engine series. Exclusions or exemptions from this directive are not provided within the text of the regulation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically address the airworthiness directives for General Electric Turbine Engines, particularly the CF6 Series (subsection 106). One significant directive, AD/CF6/9, mandates an eddy current inspection of impeller spacers in accordance with General Electric Service Bulletin SB72-906 and their removal from service if necessary (subsection 106(2)). The applicability of this directive is limited to the CF6-50/-45 Series engines (subsection 106(2)). Compliance with this directive is required to align with the provisions outlined in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of FAA AD 87-23-06 General Electric: Amendment 39-5746, effective from 1 December 1987 (subsection 106(3)). Entities and parties governed by this legislation must ensure that the specified eddy current inspections are conducted on the impeller spacers of the applicable turbine engines. These inspections must strictly adhere to the procedures outlined in GE Service Bulletin SB72-906. Additionally, the legislation requires that any impeller spacers identified as needing removal from service due to the findings of these inspections are indeed removed. The regulations impose a clear obligation on the operators and maintainers of these engines to comply with the inspection and removal requirements to maintain airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the provisions of AD/CF6/9 may result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce these regulations, and any breaches may lead to penalties. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives typically carries significant civil and potentially criminal consequences, including fines and other sanctions that could affect the operational status of the aircraft and the liability of the operators and maintainers.