AD/FPE/12 - Fire Extinguisher Bottle Cartridges

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address safety issues in the civil aviation sector, specifically targeting the airworthiness of aircraft. This legislative instrument is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aims to ensure that aircraft meet the required safety standards. One such measure is the Airworthiness Directive issued to address specific safety concerns, such as the one concerning fire extinguisher bottle cartridges by Pacific Scientific Company, HTL/Kin-Tech Division. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of fire extinguisher malfunctions due to the presence of aluminium foil in the cartridge, which can cause electrical shorting. The policy objective is to ensure the reliability and safety of fire protection equipment in aircraft, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandates the inspection and rectification of fire extinguisher bottle cartridges produced by Pacific Scientific Company, HTL/Kin-Tech Division. These cartridges, identifiable by Part Numbers 13083-10 and 13083-25, must be addressed in various aircraft models, including de Havilland, General Dynamics Convair, Lockheed, and Sabreliner series. The directive applies to these specific cartridges installed in the listed aircraft and requires that unless previously addressed, technicians must disconnect and inspect the cartridges for the presence of aluminium foil, which could cause electrical shorting. The directive also mandates proper grounding of technicians to prevent electrostatic discharge damage to the sensitive components. Compliance with this directive is mandatory before 11 April 1997, and the directive became effective on 12 March 1997.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 107, specifically addresses airworthiness directives concerning fire protection equipment in aircraft. In the section titled "Fire Extinguisher Bottle Cartridges" (AD/FPE/12), the regulations apply to Pacific Scientific Company, HTL/Kin-Tech Division, fire extinguisher bottle cartridges (squibs) with part numbers 13083-10 and 13083-25 (section 1). These cartridges may be installed in various aircraft models, including de Havilland, General Dynamics Convair, Lockheed, and Sabreliner series aeroplanes (section 1). The primary requirement is that, unless previously accomplished, technicians must pull the applicable circuit breakers and disconnect the electrical connector from the specified cartridges (section 1). The directive outlines a specific procedure to ensure compliance. First, technicians must properly ground themselves to avoid electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity, which can damage the cartridges (section 2). Next, a visual inspection of the electrical receptacle of the cartridge and its mating connector is required to check for the presence of aluminium foil in the area of the pins. Any aluminium foil detected must be removed (section 2). After the inspection and removal of aluminium foil, the electrical connector should be reinstalled, and the circuit breakers reset (section 2). Compliance with this airworthiness directive is mandatory. The directive mandates that these actions be completed before 11 April 1997 (section 3). This directive became effective on 12 March 1997 (section 3). Prior compliance with Pacific Scientific Service Letter 97-018.BC dated 21 January 1997 is considered as terminating action for this directive (section 2, Note 1). Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in safety issues, as the directive was prompted by failures in the fire extinguisher bottle cartridges due to unremoved aluminium foil, which caused electrical shorting (Background section). Non-compliance with these airworthiness directives can result in severe consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose penalties for violations. Civil penalties can include fines up to the maximum amount specified in the regulations. In more severe cases, criminal penalties can apply, with potential imprisonment terms, as specified in the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, operators found in breach may face operational restrictions or be required to take corrective actions, which can result in aircraft being grounded until compliance is achieved. The potential for such penalties underscores the importance of adhering strictly to the outlined directives to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft involved.