COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Teledyne Continental Motors Piston Engines
AD/CON/76 Superior Pistons 10/96
Applicability: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-K, -L and -R model engines fitted with Superior Air Parts Inc. Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) pistons part number SA626992 or SA626992P15.
Requirement: To prevent piston failure which could result in engine power loss or engine failure, replace Superior Air Parts pistons P/N SA626992 or SA626992P15 with pistons as detailed in approved maintenance data, including appropriate PMA listings.
Note 1: This directive does not require engines to be disassembled to identify the piston part number. Even if the applicable Superior pistons are fitted, the engine may remain in service until the next disassembly which permits access to the pistons.
Note 2: Applicable Superior pistons can be identified by the part number SA626922 or SA626922P15 stamped into the piston dome, or by a raised casting number SA632932 evident along one of the piston pin bosses.
Note 3: FAA Airworthiness Directive 96-12-04 refers.
Compliance: At next disassembly of the engine, for whatever reason, which permits access to the pistons, effective on 12 September 1996.
Background: This directive requires certain pistons to be removed from service. The requirement is in response to the issue of an FAA airworthiness directive on this subject. The FAA airworthiness directive follows the manufacturer's advice of a possible manufacturing defect in certain pistons.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106, addresses the critical safety concern of potential piston failure in Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-K, -L, and -R engines equipped with certain Superior Air Parts pistons. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this regulation aims to mitigate the risk of engine power loss or engine failure, which can be catastrophic in aviation. This directive responds to an identified manufacturing defect in specific Superior Air Parts pistons, as communicated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in their Airworthiness Directive 96-12-04. The regulation mandates that these pistons must be replaced with those detailed in approved maintenance data, ensuring compliance at the next engine disassembly, regardless of the reason for disassembly. The policy objective is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of aircraft engines by addressing identified defects promptly and effectively.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an airworthiness directive under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 to address safety concerns regarding Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-K, -L, and -R model engines that are fitted with specific Superior Air Parts Inc. pistons. The directive applies to engines equipped with Superior Air Parts pistons bearing part numbers SA626992 or SA626992P15. The purpose of this regulation is to mitigate the risk of piston failure, which could lead to engine power loss or complete engine failure. The directive mandates the replacement of these pistons with those listed in the approved maintenance data, ensuring compliance with the relevant Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) listings. Notably, the directive does not necessitate engine disassembly to identify the piston part number; however, the replacement must occur during the next engine disassembly that allows access to the pistons. The directive came into effect on 12 September 1996, following the issuance of a similar directive by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to a reported manufacturing defect. This regulation is specifically tailored to the mentioned engine models and piston types, ensuring compliance is straightforward for those within the regulated scope.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39, Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/CON/76 concerning Teledyne Continental Motors piston engines, pertain to the replacement of certain pistons to prevent engine failure (sections 1-3). The regulation applies to Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-K, -L, and -R model engines equipped with Superior Air Parts Inc. pistons identified by part numbers SA626992 or SA626992P15 (section 1). The requirement is to replace these pistons with those listed in approved maintenance data, ensuring compliance with appropriate Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) listings (section 2). Noteworthy is that the directive does not mandate engine disassembly to identify the piston part number and allows the engine to remain in service until the next disassembly that permits access to the pistons (section 3).
The obligations imposed by this Act on the relevant parties are primarily centred around the timely replacement of the specified pistons. Operators of Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-K, -L, and -R engines must ensure that any pistons identified by the part numbers SA626992 or SA626992P15 are replaced as per the approved maintenance data (section 4). This obligation arises at the next engine disassembly, regardless of the reason for disassembly, and the compliance date is set as 12 September 1996 (section 5). Additionally, operators must not operate engines with the specified pistons after the compliance date without first ensuring the replacement has been conducted (section 6).
In terms of breaches and consequences, failure to comply with the requirements set forth in AD/CON/76 could result in severe consequences. The Act does not explicitly outline the penalties within the provided excerpt; however, general provisions under civil aviation law typically include fines and potential criminal charges for non-compliance with airworthiness directives (section 7). The Civil Aviation Act 1988 and associated regulations may impose significant penalties, which could include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals responsible for non-compliance, in addition to potential operational sanctions against the entities involved (section 8). The severity of the penalties reflects the critical nature of ensuring engine airworthiness to prevent in-flight failures.