AD/G159/5 Amdt 2 - APU Turbine Wheel - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Orders, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia in 1998, aim to ensure the safety of civil aviation and address issues related to aircraft airworthiness. Specifically, the Airworthiness Directives under Part 105 of these Orders target particular aircraft types and mandate certain safety measures to mitigate risks. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the enacting body responsible for implementing these directives. AD/G159/5 Amendment 2 pertains to the GulfStream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes, focusing on the inspection of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) turbine wheel. The directive was introduced to ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards, thereby reducing the likelihood of operational failures or accidents related to the APU turbine wheel. The policy objective is to maintain the highest possible safety standards in civil aviation through regular and rigorous inspections of critical aircraft components.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Orders, specifically Part 105 Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, addresses the maintenance and operation of aircraft within Australia, including those of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes. This legislative instrument mandates that all models of the Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes adhere to the requirements set out in Amendment 2 of AD/G159/5, which pertains to the inspection of the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) turbine wheel. This requirement is to be met in accordance with Airesearch Service Bulletin No. 49-1045, Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 180, or FAA AD 65-9-3. Compliance with this directive necessitates inspections at intervals not exceeding 250 hours of APU operation or 500 APU starts, whichever comes first. This legislative instrument applies to all operators and owners of Gulfstream (Grumman) G.159 series aeroplanes within Australia, ensuring that the specified safety measures are observed to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Orders, specifically AD/G159/5 Amdt 2, focus on ensuring the safety of GulfStream (Grumman) G.159 Series aeroplanes through the inspection of the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) turbine wheel. According to section 11/71, this directive applies to all models of the G.159 series. The compliance requirements are detailed in section 1, which mandates that inspections must be performed at intervals not exceeding 250 hours of APU operation or 500 APU starts, whichever comes first. The approved documentation for conducting these inspections includes Airesearch SB No. 49-1045, Grumman Customer Bulletin No. 180, or FAA AD 65-9-3. The obligations imposed by the Civil Aviation Orders on the parties governed by AD/G159/5 Amdt 2 are clear and specific. Operators and maintenance personnel are required to adhere to the outlined inspection intervals, ensuring that the APU turbine wheel is inspected regularly. The operators must maintain records of each inspection and any repairs or replacements performed as a result of these inspections. Additionally, the maintenance personnel must be adequately trained and authorised to perform these inspections and any necessary maintenance tasks, as outlined in the approved documentation. Breaches of the Civil Aviation Orders, particularly those concerning safety directives such as AD/G159/5 Amdt 2, can lead to significant consequences. Section 11/71 does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance; however, under the broader framework of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, failure to comply with safety directives can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment. The maximum penalties can include fines of up to $210,000 for corporations and $42,000 for individuals, as well as imprisonment for up to five years. Furthermore, non-compliance can lead to operational restrictions or the grounding of the aircraft, which can have serious implications for the safety and operational viability of the airline or operator.