AD/CFM56/6 - Fan Blade

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39 - 106, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/CFM56/6, pertains to CFM International Turbine Engines of the CFM56 Series, focusing on the installation of fan blades with 37-degree midspan shrouds to address issues identified by FAA Airworthiness Directive 96-25-11. This directive was enacted to address the risk of fan blade failure, which could lead to the complete loss of engine power. The requirement is for compliance with the technical specifications outlined in the FAA directive and the associated CFMI Service Bulletin, ensuring the safety of aircraft operations by mitigating identified risks. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to provide comprehensive safety standards for aviation operations. The directive for the CFM56 Series engines was introduced to rectify safety concerns identified with certain configurations of CFM International engines, ensuring that modifications and operational restrictions are implemented to prevent catastrophic engine failures. The policy objective is to enhance the safety of air travel by mandating specific actions to address identified vulnerabilities in engine components, thereby maintaining the integrity of civil aviation safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 106, applies to the applicability of CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-3B-2 and CFM56-3C-1 engines, specifically regarding the installation of fan blades incorporating 37 Deg midspan shrouds as per CFMI Service Bulletin (CFM56-3/-3B/-3C) 72-543. This legislation is designed to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations by adhering to the technical requirements outlined in the FAA Airworthiness Directive 96-25-11. The regulatory action serves to terminate the thrust limitations imposed by this directive, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of the engines in question. Compliance with this regulation is mandatory and has been effective since 27 March 1997, with potential flight manual amendments required based on the status of engine fan blade modifications. The scope of this legislation is nationally applicable within Australia, as it is a part of the Commonwealth's regulatory framework aimed at maintaining airworthiness standards for civil aircraft engines.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 and specifically Section 106, mandate the application of the Airworthiness Directives concerning CFM International Turbine Engines of the CFM56 Series. These directives apply to the CFM56-3B-2 and CFM56-3C-1 engines and require adherence to the technical requirements outlined in the FAA Airworthiness Directive 96-25-11 (Section 106.01). The primary requirement is the installation of fan blades that incorporate 37-degree midspan shrouds, as specified in CFM International Service Bulletin (CFM56-3/-3B/-3C) 72-543 (Section 106.02). This modification is a terminating action for the thrust limitations imposed by this directive. It is also noted that a flight manual amendment may be necessary depending on the status of the engine fan blade modifications (Section 106.03). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, operators of the specified engines must ensure that the modifications to the fan blades are carried out in accordance with the prescribed technical requirements (Section 106.04). This includes timely installation of the new fan blades as per the Service Bulletin. Additionally, operators must verify that any necessary flight manual amendments are made and that these amendments are in compliance with the directive (Section 106.05). Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations, potentially leading to grounding of the aircraft until the modifications are completed (Section 106.06). Breaches of these provisions can lead to severe consequences. Civil penalties can be imposed for non-compliance, including fines up to the maximum allowable under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (Section 106.07). In more serious cases, criminal penalties may apply, with potential imprisonment for individuals found guilty of willfully disregarding the Airworthiness Directives (Section 106.08). Additionally, operators may face operational restrictions or the revocation of airworthiness certificates if the aircraft are found to be non-compliant, leading to significant operational disruptions and financial losses (Section 106.09).