AD/COOL/2 - Stewart Warner Oil Coolers - Inspection and Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, amended by the Civil Aviation (Airworthiness) Regulations 2007, established a framework for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. These regulations are overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aim to prevent accidents and incidents by enforcing airworthiness standards. The specific Airworthiness Directive AD/COOL/2, which pertains to Stewart Warner Oil Coolers, was introduced to address the problem of in-flight failures due to improper heat treatment during manufacture. Such failures pose a significant fire hazard, prompting the requirement for inspection and replacement of affected oil coolers. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance the safety of aircraft by ensuring that oil coolers meet specified standards and are properly maintained.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Stewart Warner oil coolers installed on certain aircraft models. These oil coolers are identified by particular model numbers and serial number ranges, and the directive mandates inspections and replacements to mitigate fire hazards resulting from manufacturing defects. The directive applies to Stewart Warner oil coolers without a date ink stamp next to the nameplate, installed on specific aircraft models including Bellanca, Cessna, Piper, Mooney, Great Lakes, and Beech. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this directive is national, as it is issued by the Commonwealth of Australia and applies to all aircraft registered within Australia. The directive does not specify exclusions or exemptions, but it is noted that oil coolers inspected and found satisfactory, as evidenced by a date stamp, are exempt from the requirements. The directive can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, allowing for updates and refinements to address emerging safety issues.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, mandate the inspection and potentially the replacement or placarding of certain Stewart Warner oil coolers used in various aircraft models. The regulation is detailed in the Airworthiness Directive AD/COOL/2. According to section (1), it applies to Stewart Warner oil coolers with certain model numbers and serial number ranges, provided they do not have a date ink stamped next to the nameplate. The primary requirement is to inspect the oil cooler within the specified model and serial number range (section 1). If the cooler has 10 hours or less time in service since new, it must be replaced with a cooler that is not within the affected serial number range, unless the serial number has a date ink stamped next to the oil cooler nameplate (section 2). For coolers that have accumulated more than 10 hours of service time, the inspection must check for oil leakage (section 3). If leakage is detected, the cooler must be replaced as per the requirements in section 2 (section 4). If no leakage is evident, a placard must be fabricated and installed on the aircraft instrument panel stating "Visually inspect oil cooler for leakage prior to each flight" (section 5). This placarding requirement is applicable to specific aircraft models, including Bellanca, Cessna, Piper, Mooney, Great Lakes, and Beech models. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority imposes several obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Primarily, they must ensure that all applicable oil coolers are inspected before further flight. For coolers with 10 hours or less service time, they must be replaced within that timeframe unless exempted by a date stamp (section 2). For coolers with more than 10 hours of service, an inspection for oil leakage must be conducted before further flight. If leakage is found, the cooler must be replaced. Additionally, if no leakage is detected in coolers with more than 10 hours of service, a placard must be installed as specified (section 5). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in significant consequences. The primary concern is the potential fire hazard posed by in-flight failure of an oil cooler, which can lead to serious safety risks. Non-compliance with these regulations may result in penalties, which could include fines or other enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, the overarching aim is to ensure compliance to maintain the highest safety standards in aviation.