Aircraft - General

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/GENERAL/81 Amdt 1 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 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 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.

AD/GENERAL/81

Amdt 2

Ethylene Diamine (EDA) Decontamination - Complex Aircraft

3/2000 TX

Applicability: Aircraft which were declared unairworthy in accordance with AD/GENERAL/78 Amdt. 1 or original issue; which:

Note 1: Compliance with a previous issue of this Directive constitutes compliance with Requirements 1 through 5 of this Directive.

(a)     Incorporate multi-celled/interconnected or foam-filled fuel tanks; or

Note 2: A multi-celled/interconnected tank is a tank which requires fuel poured in at the tank fill hole to go through interconnecting pipes or holes in the wall of that tank to reach other cells or compartments of that tank.

(b)     Incorporate components within the airframe fuel distribution system which require maintenance outside the privileges of a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer detailed in CAO 100.90; and

(c)     Have exhibited physical evidence of contamination since the issue of AD/GENERAL/77; or

(d)     In complying with the requirements of AD/GENERAL/79 or subsequent issues, have been confirmed as having been contaminated with EDA; or

(e)      Have had fuel tanks flushed either during evaluation trials or using EDA decontamination procedures not yet approved.

Requirement: 1: The aircraft fuel storage, fuel distribution and engine fuel metering systems are to be decontaminated in accordance with:

(a)     A procedure as published by the aircraft manufacturer; or

(b)     A procedure approved by a person holding a CAR 2A(4) delegation issued for the purpose of this Directive.

Note 3: Certain CAR 35 Authorised Persons have been issued with an Instrument of Delegation for CAR 2A(4).

Compliance with the requirements of this Directive constitutes a further terminating action for compliance with Requirement 3 of AD/GENERAL/78 Amdt. 1.

2.        The satisfactory removal of contamination shall be confirmed by testing for the continued presence of EDA using the Fluorescent Reagent Test detailed in CASA approved procedure ACSB-2000/002 Revision 1.

3.        Fuel the aircraft to maximum capacity, blending isopropyl alcohol with the AVGAS during refuelling in quantities not exceeding 1% of the maximum tank capacity.

Note 4: Isopropyl alcohol meeting specifications ASTM D4171 or TT-I-735a Grade B satisfy the requirements of this Directive.

4.        In accordance with CAR 48, certify the following clearance endorsement in the maintenance records, including the aircraft maintenance release and the aircraft log book;

“Aircraft fuel system has been decontaminated in accordance with CAR 1998 Part 39, AD/GENERAL/81 Amdt. 2, Requirement 1 [(a) or (b) as applicable].”

5.        A component history record shall be raised for each serial numbered removable fuel system component that has been subject to contaminated fuel. Enter on the component record:

“This component has been contaminated with ethylene diamine. All abnormal defects must be reported as a major defect, notifying previous exposure to ethylene diamine.”

6.        Unless required by a procedure published in accordance with Requirement 1(a) of this Directive or a procedure approved in accordance with Requirement 1(b) of this Directive; inspect all aircraft fuel system and engine fuel system fuel filters detailed in the aircraft manufacturer’s periodic inspection schedule for evidence of contamination.

Compliance: Requirements 1 through 5:

Unless previously accomplished; before further flight. However, the aircraft may be flown direct to another location to enable this maintenance to be carried out, subject to:

(a)     An inspection of all aircraft fuel system and engine fuel system filters detailed in the aircraft manufacturer’s periodic inspection schedule for evidence of contamination; and

(b)     For aircraft engines fitted with a carburettor(s); an inspection of the carburettor needle and seat for evidence of contamination; and

(c)     The total flight time not exceeding 5 hours; and

(d)     Operating crew only being carried in the aircraft; and

(e)     The aircraft being flown only in day/VFR operation; and

(f)      Flight over water being conducted within gliding distance of land. Requirement 6:

(a)     After 20 hours but no later than 25 hours time in service from the effective date of this Directive; and

(b)     After 45 hours but no later than 50 hours time in service from the effective date of this Directive.

This Amendment becomes effective on 11 February 2000.

Background:  This Directive was originally issued to require the removal of EDA contamination from complex aircraft. The amendment adds a repetitive inspection of aircraft fuel filters for all aircraft, including aircraft already decontaminated in accordance with previous issues of this Directive. The amendment also provides advice of isopropyl alcohol specifications meeting the requirements of this Directive. This amendment reflects advice from the aviation industry and is therefore based on experience gained in complying with the Directive.

Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 26 January 2000.

The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 25 January 2000.

Richard G Yates

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 February 2000

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 11 February 2000.