COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Electrical Equipment
AD/ELECT/61 Nordskog Water Heaters and Coffee Makers 2/94 DM
Applicability: Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers identified in Nordskog Industries Inc Service Bulletin SB-93-34 dated 21 October 1993; as installed in, but not limited to, the following aircraft series:
Boeing Model 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767;
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9, DC-9-80, DC-10 and MD-11; Airbus Industrie Model A300, A310 and A320;
Gulfstream Model G-1159 and G-IV; de Havilland Model DHC-8;
Dassault-Aviation Mystere-Falcon Model 50 and 900;
Canadair Model CL-600-1A11, CL-600-2A12, CL-600-2B16 & CL-600-2B19;
and
Fokker Model F27 and F28.
Requirement: 1. Inspect the water heater or coffee maker, in accordance with Nordskog Industries Service Bulletin SB-93-34, to determine if a NUPRO pressure relief valve having part number SS-2C4-65 has been installed.
2. If a NUPRO pressure relief valve part number SS-2C4-65 has been installed, then either:
- replace the pressure relief valve with a new, improved NUPRO pressure relief valve part number SS-CHF2-65, or
b. deactivate the water heater or coffee maker and install a placard stating `Not to be used”.
3. NUPRO pressure relief valve part number SS-2C4-65 held as spares are not to be fitted to water heaters or coffee makers identified in Nordskog Industries Inc Service Bulletin SB-93-34 dated 21 October 1993 and these water heaters or coffee makers are not to be fitted to aircraft as replacement items, if a NUPRO pressure relief valve part number SS-2C4-65 is installed.
Note: FAA AD 93-23-01 Amdt 39-8735 refers.
Compliance: 1 - Prior to 7 January 1994.
2 - Prior to further flight.
3 - With effect 8 December 1993.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Background: The FAA recently received reports of injuries to cabin crew members that resulted from explosions of galley water heaters. One report stemmed from an incident in which a water heater exploded in the galley, tore a hole through the the galley wall and landed in the cockpit, injuring two flight attendants and the co-pilot, and at the same time cutting several electrical cables. Investigation has revealed that the `O” ring jammed the poppet of the pressure relief valve, resulting in over-pressurisation. Compliance with this Directive will decrease the likelihood of galley water heaters and coffee makers exploding, causing injuries to passengers and crew and structural damage to the aircraft.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, serve to regulate civil aviation within the country, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. This legislation was introduced to address specific safety concerns, particularly those related to aircraft equipment and operations. Part 39 of these Regulations includes detailed airworthiness directives, such as the one concerning Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers. This directive was issued to mitigate the risk of explosions caused by over-pressurisation of these appliances, following reports of incidents that resulted in injuries and damage to aircraft. The policy objective behind such directives is to enhance the safety of air travel by preventing hazardous conditions that could compromise the integrity of the aircraft and endanger passengers and crew.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically addresses the safety concerns associated with Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers installed in various aircraft models. The directive applies to Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers identified in Nordskog Industries Inc Service Bulletin SB-93-34 dated 21 October 1993, as installed in aircraft such as Boeing 727, 737, 747, 757, and 767; McDonnell Douglas DC-9, DC-9-80, DC-10, and MD-11; Airbus A300, A310, and A320; and others. The directive mandates the inspection and replacement or deactivation of specific NUPRO pressure relief valves to mitigate the risk of over-pressurisation and subsequent explosions, which have caused injuries and damage in the past. Compliance with these directives is required before 7 January 1994, and before any further flight if the specified conditions are met, reflecting the urgency and critical nature of the safety measures implemented.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 107, specifically addresses the safety of Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers installed in various aircraft models. Section AD/ELECT/61 mandates that these appliances be inspected to determine if a particular NUPRO pressure relief valve, part number SS-2C4-65, has been installed. If such a valve is found, the directive requires that it be either replaced with an improved version, part number SS-CHF2-65, or that the water heater or coffee maker be deactivated and marked with a placard indicating "Not to be used". Additionally, spare parts of the NUPRO valve part number SS-2C4-65 are prohibited from being fitted to these appliances, and such appliances are not to be used as replacements on aircraft if they have the aforementioned valve installed.
The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties involved include conducting a thorough inspection of the Nordskog water heaters and coffee makers to identify the specific pressure relief valve in use. Once identified, the appropriate corrective action must be taken, either by replacing the valve or by deactivating the appliance. This process must be completed before further flight and must be in compliance with the directive effective from 8 December 1993. The regulation also mandates that any NUPRO valve part number SS-2C4-65 held as spares should not be used and that the appliances should not be installed as replacements if they have this valve installed.
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to significant consequences. The primary concern is the potential for injuries to passengers and crew, as well as damage to the aircraft, due to the risk of over-pressurisation and subsequent explosion of the water heaters or coffee makers. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, it can be inferred that breaches of these safety directives could result in severe civil or criminal penalties, given the potential for catastrophic outcomes. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) would likely enforce these directives stringently to ensure aviation safety standards are met, and non-compliance could result in penalties including fines, enforcement actions, or other regulatory sanctions as prescribed under the Civil Aviation Act 1988.