COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Electrical Equipment
AD/ELECT/58 SAFT 1606-1 Batteries 2/91
Applicability: All SAFT 1606-1 batteries equipped with temperature probes, and fitted to aircraft or held as spares.
Note: Aircraft known to be fitted with this type of battery include, but are not limited to Aerospatiale AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters.
Requirement: Verify the presence of the battery shunt (jumper) between terminals 2 and 3 of the female plug on the battery temperature probe cable. If the shunt is missing, install a shunt P/No 161-211 and ensure correct operation of the temperature probe system.
Note: DGAC AD 90-198-056(B) also refers.
Compliance: 1. For batteries fitted to aircraft: within 50 hours time in service after 21 February 1991.
2. For uninstalled batteries: before installation in an aircraft.
Background: Advice has been received that the temperature probe shunt may be not installed or missing on some SAFT 1606-1 batteries which may result in nil operation of the temperature sensing system, and therefore failure to detect a potentially dangerous overheated battery condition.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 were enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia, with the primary aim of addressing safety issues and maintaining high standards in the industry. One specific legislative instrument under these regulations is F2006B09432, which focuses on the airworthiness directives concerning electrical equipment, particularly the SAFT 1606-1 batteries used in certain aircraft models. This legislation was introduced to address a recognised problem of potential safety risks associated with the temperature probe shunt in these batteries, which, if missing or not installed correctly, could lead to the failure of the temperature sensing system. This oversight could potentially result in dangerous overheating conditions going undetected. The regulations mandate that the presence of the battery shunt between specified terminals be verified and corrected if necessary, ensuring that the temperature probe system functions correctly. Compliance with these directives is overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is the enacting body responsible for enforcing these safety measures.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertains to electrical equipment used in aviation, with a focus on SAFT 1606-1 batteries equipped with temperature probes. This directive applies to all such batteries that are either fitted to aircraft or held as spares. It notably includes aircraft like the Aerospatiale AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters, among others. The requirement set forth by this regulation is to verify the presence of the battery shunt (jumper) between terminals 2 and 3 of the female plug on the battery temperature probe cable. If the shunt is absent, it must be installed using part number 161-211, and the correct operation of the temperature probe system must be ensured. This directive also references DGAC AD 90-198-056(B). Compliance with these requirements must be met within 50 hours of time in service for batteries already fitted to aircraft post-21 February 1991, and before installation for any uninstalled batteries. This regulation aims to prevent potential failures in the temperature sensing system that could lead to undetected overheating of the battery, posing a significant safety risk.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, establish important safety directives related to aircraft electrical equipment, particularly the SAFT 1606-1 batteries equipped with temperature probes. Section AD/ELECT/58 mandates that all such batteries, whether currently fitted to aircraft or held as spares, must have a battery shunt (jumper) installed between terminals 2 and 3 of the female plug on the battery temperature probe cable (subsection 2/91). This requirement ensures the proper functioning of the temperature sensing system, which is critical for detecting overheating conditions that could pose a safety hazard. Aircraft known to be equipped with this type of battery include Aerospatiale AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters, among others.
Compliance with these regulations is governed by specific timelines and conditions. For batteries already fitted to aircraft, the requirement must be met within 50 hours of time in service after 21 February 1991 (subsection 1). For batteries that are not currently fitted to an aircraft but are held as spares, compliance must be ensured before any installation in an aircraft (subsection 2). This ensures that all batteries in use are safe and capable of operating as intended without the risk of undetected overheating.
Failure to comply with these directives could lead to serious safety implications. The absence of the battery shunt could result in the temperature sensing system becoming inoperative, which might lead to an inability to detect dangerous battery overheating. The regulations are underpinned by safety concerns highlighted by the DGAC AD 90-198-056(B) advisory, which stresses the importance of this component in maintaining safe operational conditions. While the regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, any resulting safety incidents could lead to further scrutiny and potential enforcement actions under related civil aviation laws, including the possibility of fines or other administrative actions.