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/78 Roller Rockers 5/98
Applicability: TCM O-470, IO-470, IO-520, TSIO-520 and IO-550 series engines incorporating “Performance Engineering” exhaust valve roller rockers fitted in accordance with FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE8594SW.
Note 1: Only engines which have had exhaust valve roller rockers fitted by an STC are affected by this directive. Such engines should have details of the STC certified in the engine log book. Engines fitted with the standard TCM valve rockers are not affected.
Requirement: To prevent an exhaust valve roller rocker failure resulting in a loss of engine oil, engine power loss and possible engine failure, remove “Performance Engineering” exhaust valve roller rockers fitted in accordance with STC SE8594SW from service.
Note 2: FAA Airworthiness Directive 98-01-08 refers.
Compliance: Within 25 hours time in service effective from 23 April 1998.
This airworthiness directive becomes effective on 23 April 1998.
Background: This directive has been issued to require certain valve rockers to be removed from service. The requirement is in response to reports of failures of “Performance Engineering” roller rocker arms installed under STC SE8594SW. An investigation of the failed roller rocker arms disclosed evidence of manufacturing errors. Valve rocker arm failure will result in a loss of engine power and possible loss of engine oil. Continued operation could then result in engine failure.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, are an integral part of the legislative framework governing civil aviation safety in Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 106 pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addressing the safety standards for aircraft and their components. This legislation was enacted to ensure the safety of air travel by establishing stringent requirements and oversight mechanisms for aircraft maintenance and operation. One such directive, AD/CON/78, specifically targets Teledyne Continental Motors piston engines with certain exhaust valve roller rockers fitted by Performance Engineering under FAA Supplemental Type Certificate SE8595SW. The directive was introduced to address a safety concern identified with these particular components, which had been associated with manufacturing defects leading to engine failure. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of in-flight engine failure by mandating the removal of the specified exhaust valve roller rockers from service, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, applies to Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) piston engines, namely the O-470, IO-470, IO-520, TSIO-520, and IO-550 series, which have had "Performance Engineering" exhaust valve roller rockers fitted in accordance with the FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE8594SW. This legislation is applicable to all aircraft operators and maintenance entities that utilise these specific engines. It is a Commonwealth regulation, exerting its influence across the entire nation. Notably, engines fitted with standard TCM valve rockers are exempt from this directive. The regulation mandates that the "Performance Engineering" exhaust valve roller rockers must be removed from service to prevent potential failures that could result in a loss of engine oil, engine power loss, and possible engine failure. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 25 hours of time in service, with the directive itself becoming effective from 23 April 1998.
Key Provisions
The main sections of this legislative instrument (Part 39, 106) require the removal of specific "Performance Engineering" exhaust valve roller rockers from certain Teledyne Continental Motors piston engines to prevent failures that could lead to severe operational hazards. Specifically, Section 106.01 identifies the affected engines as the TCM O-470, IO-470, IO-520, TSIO-520, and IO-550 series engines that have had exhaust valve roller rockers fitted in accordance with FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE8594SW. It is important to note that only engines with these specific roller rockers are affected, and those fitted with standard TCM valve rockers are exempt from this directive.
The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Firstly, owners or operators of the specified engines must ensure that any "Performance Engineering" exhaust valve roller rockers installed under STC SE8594SW are removed from service. This requirement aims to mitigate the risk of failure, which could otherwise result in a loss of engine oil and power, potentially leading to engine failure. Compliance with this directive must be achieved within 25 hours of the directive's effective date of 23 April 1998.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this airworthiness directive can lead to serious consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can typically result in severe regulatory actions, including fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other enforcement measures by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive underscores the importance of adhering to safety protocols to ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft engines.