Overview

The Airworthiness Directive AD/ELECT/74, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, was enacted in 2004 to address a safety issue concerning Lermer GmbH water boilers installed in certain aircraft models. The directive was prompted by an incident where an A330 aircraft had to turn back mid-flight due to overheating of a galley water boiler, revealing a deficiency in the electrical circuit design of some Lermer water boilers that could potentially cause overheating, leading to smoke, burning smells, and potential injury to passengers. The directive mandates the inspection and, if necessary, the replacement or marking of affected water boilers to ensure airworthiness before 31 December 2004. This directive became effective on 30 September 2004 and was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2004.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 targets specific Lermer GmbH water boilers installed on Airbus aircraft models such as the A300, A310, A300-600, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, and A340 series. The directive applies to water boilers with specified part numbers (L13471, L13471-05, L13471-11, L13471-19) or type numbers (1010099-6, 1010099-10, 1010099-6.1, 1010099-6.2). Notably, water boilers engraved with specific Airbus Service Bulletin (SB) numbers or marked as compliant with AD F-2004-132 are exempt from the directive's requirements. The directive mandates that inspections be conducted to identify and address potential overheating issues by verifying the logo on the water boiler's identification plate, inspecting the overheat protection if the old Lermer logo is present, and taking appropriate action based on the number of electrical terminals connected. The directive applies nationally within Australia and requires compliance by 31 December 2004. The directive is effective from 30 September 2004 and is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2004.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically AD/ELECT/74, applies to certain Lermer GmbH water boilers with specific part and type numbers (sections 1 and 2). This AD mandates the inspection and potential replacement of affected water boilers to ensure they meet airworthiness standards. The AD applies to Lermer GmbH water boilers identified by specific part numbers (L13471, L13471-05, L13471-11, L13471-19) or type numbers (1010099-6, 1010099-10, 1010099-6.1, 1010099-6.2). However, water boilers engraved with certain Airbus Service Bulletin numbers or marked as 'Complies with AD F-2004-132' are exempt from the requirements of this directive (section 1). To comply with the AD, operators must first access the water boiler as per the applicable aircraft maintenance manual. They must then identify the water boiler and check the logo on the identification plate. If the new DRIESSEN logo is present, no further action is required (section 3(a)). If the old Lermer logo exists, the overheat protection of the water boiler must be inspected according to Lermer GmbH CMM 25-30-31, page block 300 (section 3(b)). If four or more electrical terminals are connected, the equipment label must be engraved with 'Complies with AD F-2004-132' (section 3(c)). If less than four electrical terminals are connected, the water boiler must be scrapped and replaced with an airworthy one (section 3(d)). For Airbus aeroplanes, embodiment of specific applicable Service Bulletins is considered an acceptable means of compliance (section 3(e)). The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Operators of the specified aircraft must ensure that the water boilers in their aircraft are inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced according to the directive. This includes accessing the water boiler, identifying it, inspecting the logo, and performing further checks and actions as required (section 3). Operators must ensure that the specified water boilers are inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced before the compliance date of 31 December 2004 (section 4). The AD becomes effective on 30 September 2004, giving operators a period of approximately three months to ensure compliance (section 4). Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety issues, including the risk of overheating, burning smells, smoke, and potential injury to aircraft occupants (Background section). The AD does not explicitly state any specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. However, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to significant consequences, including the potential grounding of aircraft, fines, and other regulatory actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD’s primary focus is on ensuring the safety of aircraft operations by addressing a known safety risk associated with certain Lermer GmbH water boilers.