COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Fire Protection Equipment
AD/FPE/16 Removal of Kidde Fire Extinguishers
P/N 898052 from Service
3/2004
Applicability: Kidde Aerospace hand held fire extinguisher P/N898052 with serial numbers V- 432001 through W-389653 both inclusive and manufactured between 1995 and 2002.
This directive is not applicable to fire extinguishers, P/N 898052, with serial numbers with prefixes other than “V” or “W”.
Requirement: 1. Remove from service the applicable hand held fire extinguishers per Kidde Aerospace SB 898052-26-449 dated 7 October 2002.
2. Do not install any fire extinguisher for which this directive is applicable.
Note: FAA AD 2003-26-14Amdt 39-13413 refers.
Compliance: Requirement 1: Not later than 18 March 2005.
Requirement 2: As of the effective date of this Directive.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 March 2004.
Background: Incomplete crimping of the siphon tubes have resulted in discharge time of the applicable fire extinguishers to be more than that is maximum allowable. This could adversely affect the performance of the extinguisher in an emergency and hence are removed from service.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 5 February 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 February 2004.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure that all civil aviation activities in Australia adhere to stringent safety standards. This legislative instrument is part of a broader regulatory framework designed to mitigate risks associated with civil aviation, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation industry. One specific aspect of these regulations, detailed in Part 39 - 107, involves the issuance of Airworthiness Directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The Airworthiness Directive (AD) regarding the removal of Kidde Aerospace hand-held fire extinguishers P/N 898052 from service, issued in March 2004, is an example of such regulatory measures. This directive was introduced to address the unsafe condition of incomplete crimping of the siphon tubes in certain fire extinguishers, which led to longer discharge times beyond the maximum allowable limits. This could potentially compromise the extinguishers' effectiveness during emergencies, thus necessitating their removal from service to uphold safety standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, encompasses the Airworthiness Directives issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) targets Kidde Aerospace hand held fire extinguishers with part number 898052 and serial numbers ranging from V-432001 to W-389653, manufactured between 1995 and 2002. The directive mandates the removal of these specific fire extinguishers from service due to incomplete crimping of the siphon tubes, which leads to discharge times exceeding the maximum allowable limit. This unsafe condition could potentially compromise the extinguishers' effectiveness in emergency situations. The directive does not apply to fire extinguishers with serial numbers prefixed by characters other than "V" or "W". Compliance with the directive requires the removal of the specified extinguishers from service by 18 March 2005, with a prohibition on the installation of any affected extinguishers taking effect immediately upon the directive's issuance on 18 March 2004. This directive is binding across the Commonwealth of Australia, as it is issued by CASA, and is enforceable in accordance with the regulations set forth in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 107, provide detailed provisions for ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products. Specifically, Airworthiness Directive AD/FPE/16, issued on 3 March 2004, addresses the removal of Kidde Aerospace handheld fire extinguishers P/N 898052 with certain serial numbers from service (section 1). This directive applies to extinguishers with serial numbers V-432001 through W-389653, manufactured between 1995 and 2002. Importantly, it excludes extinguishers with serial numbers beginning with any prefix other than "V" or "W". The directive mandates that these specific extinguishers be removed from service and that no new extinguishers of this type be installed (section 2).
The obligations imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are clear and direct. Aircraft operators and owners must ensure that the specified Kidde Aerospace fire extinguishers are removed from service by no later than 18 March 2005 (section 3). Additionally, they are prohibited from installing any new fire extinguishers of the affected model and serial number range (section 3). These obligations are intended to mitigate the risk of incomplete crimping of the siphon tubes, which can lead to longer discharge times than are permissible, thereby compromising the effectiveness of the extinguishers in an emergency.
Failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive AD/FPE/16 can result in significant consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly detailed within this directive, non-compliance with Airworthiness Directives generally may lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. These actions can include fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory penalties aimed at ensuring compliance with air safety standards. The seriousness of these potential penalties underscores the importance of adhering to the directive’s requirements.