COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Electrical Equipment
AD/ELECT/48
Amdt 3
Mechanical Products Inc - Circuit Breakers 9/89
Applicability: 1. Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers as follows:
Series Part No | Military Designator | Rating - Amps | Manufacturers Date Code |
4001 | MS22073 | 1 thru 5 | 8501 thru 8636 |
4200 | MS26574 | 0.5 thru 5 | 8430 thru 8636 |
4310-0001 and 4310-019 | MS3320 | 1 thru 5 | 8605 thru 8636 |
8500 | Nil | 1 thru 5 | 8514 thru 8636 |
2. Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers commercialised by E.C.E. Co. as follows:
Mechanical Products Series P/N | Equivalent ECE Reference No | Rating - Amps | Manufacturers Date Code |
4001-001-( ) | 120DU01### | 1 thru 5 | 8501 thru 8636 |
4001-004-( ) | 124DU01### | 1 thru 5 | 8501 thru 8636 |
4001-007-( ) | 125DU01### | 1 thru 5 | 8501 thru 8636 |
4310-001-( ) | 170/171DU01### | 1 thru 5 | 8605 thru 8636 |
Note 1. ( ) may be any digit in the range 1 thru 5. # may be any three digits in the range 010 thru 050.
Note 2. The first two digits of the date code are the year of manufacture and the second two digits are the week in that year.
Note 3. All the above circuit breakers may be identified by their blue or black base colour. Mechanical Products circuit breakers commercialised by ECE have an ECE reference number on the body of the circuit breaker.
Note 4. This Directive does not apply to circuit breakers produced or installed prior to 23 July 1984, (the thirtieth week of 1984), or to circuit breakers which have been inspected by the manufacturer, found free of defect, marked with a white inverted Z or a T painted on the terminal end, and have an additional date code with an “R” prefix.
As an example the unit may have the additional date code of R8642, where “R” designates a retest by Mechanical Products.
Note 5. Aircraft which may be fitted with circuit breakers commercialised by E.C.E. Co. include but are not limited to Aerospatiale SA 330 helicopters.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Note 6. FAA AD 87-06-09 and DGAC AD 87-073-IMP(AB)RI refer.
Requirement: Remove from service circuit breakers which fall within the area designated in the applicability statement. Some approved alternate Part No's are as follows:
Mechanical Products Inc Equivalent Part Numbers
Suspect Part Numbers | Klixon | Mechanical Products Inc |
8500-005-1 | 7274-55-1 | 8500-002-1 |
8500-005-105 | 7274-55-1 1/2 | 8500-002-105 |
8500-005-2 | 7274-55-2 | 8500-002-2 |
8500-005-3 | 7274-55-3 | 8500-002-3 |
8500-005-5 | 7274-55-5 | 8500-002-5 |
Compliance: For Mechanical Products Inc circuit breakers; within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1987.
For Mechanical Products Inc circuit breakers commercialised by E.C.E Co; within 100 hours time in service after 10 August 1989.
Background: 1. Mechanical Products Inc. have advised that a quantity of circuit breakers have been shipped which may be improperly manufactured. An internal contact carrier may rotate within these units which may create an electrical shock hazard or cause the circuit breaker to not fulfil its protection function.
2 Amendment 2 to this Directive is issued to include Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers commercialised by E.C.E. Co.
3. Amendment 3 to this AD is issued to:
- clarify the applicable series of ECE commercialised circuit breakers;
- provide additional information to aid in identifying ECE commercialised circuit breakers;
- revise the compliance date for ECE commercialised circuit breakers; and
- clarify which Mechanical Products circuit breakers in the 4310 series are affected.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the authority of the Australian Parliament, introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation, specifically PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, was enacted to address potential safety issues associated with electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers, used in aircraft. This regulation aims to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft by imposing mandatory safety directives, thereby protecting both the aircraft and its passengers from electrical faults. The policy objective is to ensure that all electrical components, especially those critical to safety, meet stringent safety standards to prevent malfunctions that could lead to accidents. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is responsible for enforcing these directives, ensuring that the aviation industry adheres to the highest safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/ELECT/48 Amendment 3, pertains to certain Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers and those commercialised by E.C.E. Co., impacting the aviation industry's maintenance and safety protocols. This regulation applies to Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers listed in the directive, including specific series part numbers, military designators, ratings, and manufacturers' date codes. The directive also covers Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers commercialised by E.C.E. Co., identified by equivalent ECE reference numbers, ratings, and date codes. Notably, the directive does not apply to circuit breakers manufactured before 23 July 1984, those that have been retested and marked by the manufacturer, or those installed in aircraft prior to the specified compliance dates. The geographical scope of this regulation is national, affecting all aircraft within Australia that may be fitted with the affected circuit breakers. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified circuit breakers, requiring their removal from service within 100 hours of time in service after the respective compliance dates of 31 May 1987 for Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers and 10 August 1989 for those commercialised by E.C.E. Co.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, mandate specific requirements and procedures related to the airworthiness of certain electrical equipment, particularly circuit breakers manufactured by Mechanical Products Inc. These directives, found under PART 39 - 107 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to a range of Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers, as well as those commercialised by E.C.E. Co. (sections 1 and 2). The directive specifies that circuit breakers manufactured within certain date ranges and identifiable by specific characteristics must be removed from service. For Mechanical Products Inc. circuit breakers, this removal must occur within 100 hours of service after 31 May 1987, and for those commercialised by E.C.E. Co., within 100 hours of service after 10 August 1989. Compliance with these directives is crucial to ensure the safety and functionality of the electrical systems in affected aircraft.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of aircraft that contain the affected circuit breakers. These parties must ensure that any circuit breakers within the specified series and part numbers, identifiable by their colour and specific markings, are replaced with approved alternate parts as listed in the directive. Operators must conduct a thorough inspection of their aircraft to identify any affected circuit breakers and ensure their timely removal and replacement. This includes verifying the manufacturing date codes and identifying any circuit breakers that fall within the scope of the directive. Additionally, maintainers must be familiar with the approved replacement parts and the procedure for their installation.
Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the Airworthiness Directives can result in significant legal and operational consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with these directives, but non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and potential criminal charges for individuals responsible for the oversight of the aircraft's maintenance. It is imperative for operators and maintainers to adhere to these directives to avoid these serious repercussions and to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of their aircraft.