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 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 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.
Allied Signal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - LTS 101 Series
AD/LTS/16 Rigid Tube Fuel Manifold 4/2002
Applicability: LTS 101 Series turboshaft engines with the following part number (P/N’s) rigid fuel tube manifolds installed:
Table 1. P/N’s of Applicable Rigid Tube Fuel Manifolds
4 - 301 - 042 - 02 | 4 - 301 - 042 - 06 | 4 - 301 - 236 - 03 | 4 - 301 - 286 - 02 |
4 - 301 - 042 - 04 | 4 - 301 - 236 - 01 | 4 - 301 - 236 - 04 | 4 - 301 -376 - 01 |
4 - 301 - 042 - 05 | 4 - 301 - 236 -02 | 4 - 301 - 286 - 01 | |
Requirement: Remove applicable rigid fuel manifolds, and replace with serviceable manifolds.
Serviceable fuel manifolds can include those with P/N’s that are listed in Table 1 of this Directive provided they do not meet any of the following criteria:
- The manifold has accumulated 3,000 or more total Gas generator (Ng) cycles; or
ii. the manifold has had partial tube replacements; or
iii. the manifold has an unknown number of (Ng) cycles.
Note. FAA AD 2001-22-07 refers.
Allied Signal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - LTS 101 Series
AD/LTS/16 (continued)
Compliance: Replace rigid fuel manifolds as per the following schedule:
Table 2 Fuel Tube Replacement Schedule
Ng Cycles since New (CSN), or Cycles in Service (CIS) since total tube replacement | Replacement Schedule |
1. 2,750 or less | Before accumulating 3,000 total Ng cycles |
2. More than 2,750 | Within 250 CIS after the effective date of this AD. |
3. Unknown | - Within 2000 CIS after the effective date of this AD; or
2. at the next engine removal; or 3. at the removal of the fuel manifold for cause; whichever is first. |
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 18 April 2002.
Background: This Directive has been issued to prevent engine fuel leakage due to low cycle fatigue cracking of the rigid tube fuel manifold. The FAA has determined that resultant leakage could result in an in-flight fire. Replacement of the applicable manifolds per the replacement schedule will prevent fuel leakage from occurring.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 March 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002.
Overview
The Airworthiness Directive AD/LTS/16, issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, addresses a safety concern related to fuel leakage in LTS 101 Series turboshaft engines. The directive was enacted on 18 April 2002 to mitigate the risk of in-flight fires caused by low cycle fatigue cracking of the rigid tube fuel manifold. The Federal Register of Legislative Instruments recorded the notification of this AD in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002. The directive mandates the removal and replacement of specified rigid fuel manifolds with serviceable ones, with a particular focus on those that have accumulated over 3,000 total Gas generator (Ng) cycles, have had partial tube replacements, or have an unknown number of Ng cycles. The objective of this AD is to prevent fuel leakage and ensure the airworthiness of the affected aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to LTS 101 Series turboshaft engines equipped with certain rigid tube fuel manifolds. These engines are required to meet the directive's stipulations to maintain airworthiness standards and prevent potential hazards such as engine fuel leakage and in-flight fires. The directive mandates the removal and replacement of applicable rigid fuel manifolds, with specific criteria for serviceable replacements, such as those with fewer than 3,000 total Gas generator cycles and no history of partial tube replacements. The directive’s compliance schedule requires replacement within specific cycles in service or at certain engine maintenance events. This directive applies nationally across Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with non-compliance potentially leading to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The directive does not explicitly exclude any entities or operations, but its application is limited to the specified turboshaft engines and fuel manifolds.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under section 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates specific actions to ensure the safety of the LTS 101 Series turboshaft engines. The AD requires the removal and replacement of applicable rigid fuel manifolds with serviceable ones. This action is necessary to prevent engine fuel leakage caused by low cycle fatigue cracking of the rigid tube fuel manifold, which could potentially result in an in-flight fire. The AD specifies that fuel manifolds with part numbers listed in Table 1 of the Directive are applicable, unless they do not meet the criteria outlined in the requirement section.
The AD imposes obligations on the operators of the affected aircraft to ensure that the rigid fuel manifolds are replaced according to the specified schedule. The requirement section outlines that the replacement should occur under certain conditions, such as before the manifold accumulates 3,000 total Gas generator (Ng) cycles, within a specified number of cycles in service (CIS) after the AD's effective date, or at the next engine removal or removal of the fuel manifold for cause, whichever comes first. This is detailed in Table 2 of the AD, which provides a replacement schedule based on the number of cycles since new (CSN) or cycles in service (CIS) since the total tube replacement.
Failure to comply with this AD can result in serious safety risks, as the potential for fuel leakage and subsequent in-flight fire is significant. While the AD itself does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with ADs generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory measures. The specific penalties would depend on the circumstances of the non-compliance and the applicable aviation regulations. The AD became effective on 18 April 2002, and was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 March 2002.