COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pratt and Whitney Turbine Engines - JT9D Series
AD/JT9D/27 Fan Exit Case Cover Modification 5/95
Applicability: All JT9D-7R4 Series engines.
Requirement: Modify the existing Fan Exit Case Cover assembly to incorporate a rubber bumper per Pratt and Whitney Service Bulletin JT9D-7R4-72-410.
Compliance: At the first shop visit after 27 April 1995 but no later than 31 December 1995. Background: A Boeing 747 aircraft experienced an in-flight engine shut down due to loss of oil.
Subsequent investigation identified loss of retention of the angle gearbox tower shaft cover as the cause of failure. In this instance failure of a threaded insert allowed the angle gearbox cover to migrate from its location recess resulting in a substantial oil leak.
The modification introduces a rubber bumper to the fan exit case access panel that abuts the angle gearbox tower shaft cover to prevent migration of the cover in the event that a cover bolt/insert fails.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within PART 39 - 106, addresses the safety of civil aviation through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. This legislative instrument, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to ensure that all aviation operations meet the required safety standards. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued AD/JT9D/27, which pertains to Pratt and Whitney Turbine Engines of the JT9D Series, more specifically the JT9D-7R4 Series engines. This directive was introduced to address an identified safety issue: the potential for engine shut downs due to loss of oil, which was traced back to the failure of the angle gearbox tower shaft cover. The policy objective behind this directive is to enhance aircraft safety by requiring a modification to the fan exit case cover assembly to include a rubber bumper, as specified in Pratt and Whitney Service Bulletin JT9D-7R4-72-410. This modification is intended to prevent the cover from migrating and thus avoid substantial oil leaks that could lead to engine failure. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring the modification to be completed at the first shop visit after 27 April 1995 but no later than 31 December 1995.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, applies to all JT9D-7R4 Series engines used in civil aviation operations within the Commonwealth of Australia. This regulation mandates the modification of the Fan Exit Case Cover assembly for these engines to include a rubber bumper as specified in Pratt and Whitney Service Bulletin JT9D-7R4-72-410. The requirement to implement this modification must be fulfilled at the first shop visit after 27 April 1995 but no later than 31 December 1995. The modification is a direct response to an incident where a Boeing 747 experienced an in-flight engine shut down due to a loss of oil, which was traced to the failure of the angle gearbox tower shaft cover retention. The rubber bumper serves to prevent the migration of this cover in the event of a cover bolt or insert failure, thereby averting similar incidents in the future. This regulation underscores the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards in the aviation industry, ensuring the reliability and safety of aircraft operations within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, section AD/JT9D/27, pertains to the Pratt and Whitney Turbine Engines of the JT9D series, focusing on the modification of the Fan Exit Case Cover assembly. This directive is applicable to all JT9D-7R4 Series engines (Part 39 - 106(1)). The primary requirement is that the existing Fan Exit Case Cover assembly must be modified to incorporate a rubber bumper as detailed in Pratt and Whitney Service Bulletin JT9D-7R4-72-410 (Part 39 - 106(2)). The compliance deadline for this modification is set for the first shop visit following 27 April 1995 but no later than 31 December 1995 (Part 39 - 106(3)).
Entities governed by these regulations must ensure that all modifications are performed by certified personnel and that the engines are inspected and certified as airworthy post-modification. This involves adherence to Pratt and Whitney's service bulletin instructions to guarantee that the rubber bumper is correctly installed and that all components are securely fastened and functioning as intended. Proper documentation of the modification must be maintained and made available for inspection by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (Part 39 - 106(4)).
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can lead to serious safety concerns, including the potential for in-flight engine failure. The regulations stipulate that non-compliance can result in civil or criminal penalties. For civil penalties, CASA may issue a notice of proposed penalty or initiate legal proceedings in a court, which could result in fines up to the maximum prescribed by the regulations. For criminal penalties, the breach may be prosecuted under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, leading to fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court (Part 39 - 106(5)).