AD/CON/67 - Valve Retainer Key

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended through legislative instruments such as F2006B08644, form an integral part of the regulatory framework governing civil aviation in Australia. This particular legislative instrument addresses issues related to the airworthiness of Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) piston engines manufactured and remanufactured within a specific timeframe. The problem it was introduced to address involves the potential risk of engine failure due to missing or improperly installed valve retainer keys, which was highlighted by incidents overseas. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, the overarching policy objective of these regulations is to ensure the highest safety standards in civil aviation, thereby protecting both passengers and crew. Compliance with such directives is mandatory, with inspections required before further flight to mitigate any identified risks.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 106, apply to all engines manufactured, remanufactured, or overhauled by Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) within the specified period of July 29, 1992, to March 30, 1993, and all cylinder assemblies supplied by TCM during the same timeframe, provided these engines and assemblies have less than 25 hours of Time In Service (TIS) since their installation. The directive specifically mandates that these engines must comply with TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 93-12, which requires verification of the proper installation of the valve retainer key. The directive is effective as of June 7, 1993, and must be adhered to unless the inspection and required actions have already been completed before further flight. This regulation aims to prevent engine failure caused by missing valve retainer keys, as evidenced by two overseas incidents. Compliance with this directive is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring that all affected engines and assemblies are safe for continued operation.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, section 106, mandate the compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft engines. In this context, AD/CON/67 pertains to Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) piston engines and requires the verification of the proper installation of the valve retainer key (Section 106). This directive applies to all engines manufactured, remanufactured, or overhauled by TCM between July 29, 1992, and March 30, 1993, and to all cylinder assemblies supplied by TCM during the same period, provided these engines and assemblies have less than 25 hours of Time In Service (TIS) since installation (Section 106). The directive references TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 93-12, dated May 12, 1993, which outlines the necessary procedures for ensuring the correct installation of the valve retainer key. The key obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs include conducting a thorough inspection of the specified TCM engines and cylinder assemblies to verify that the valve retainer key is correctly installed. This verification must be performed in accordance with the procedures detailed in TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 93-12. Additionally, the compliance with this directive must be achieved by June 7, 1993, unless the inspection and any required corrective actions have already been completed prior to this date. This ensures that the engines are safe for further flight operations. Failure to comply with this directive can result in significant consequences. The potential breaches of this AD could lead to engine failure, which might compromise the safety of the flight and the aircraft. The consequences for non-compliance could include grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and corrective actions are completed. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within this directive, the overarching regulatory framework under which these regulations operate could impose substantial fines or other penalties for breaches of aviation safety requirements. The exact penalties would be determined based on the broader legal context and the severity of the non-compliance.