AD/LTS/9 Amdt 2 - Number 3 and 4 Bearing Monitoring

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, establish a comprehensive framework for the regulation of civil aviation within Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. One specific aspect of these regulations is Part 39, which focuses on airworthiness directives. One such directive is AD/LTS/9 Amendment 2, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to address the issue of bearing monitoring in AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines of the LTS 101 series. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of power turbine failure events by requiring the monitoring of the number 3 and 4 bearings, aligning with the technical procedures outlined in FAA Airworthiness Directive 88-14-01. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of affected aircraft by implementing specific maintenance procedures, thereby protecting the integrity of the aircraft and the safety of passengers and crew. The directive specifies that it applies to all LTS 101 series engines not already incorporating the requirements of Civil Aviation Order 106, Amendment 13. The requirement mandates the monitoring of the number 3 and 4 bearings according to the detailed technical procedures in FAA Airworthiness Directive 88-14-01. Compliance with this directive is necessary unless the specified actions have already been completed, as per the requirement document with a revised effectivity date of 15 August 1996. This directive reflects the ongoing commitment to aviation safety by ensuring that engines are maintained to high standards, preventing potential failures that could compromise the safety of air travel.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, addresses the safety standards for AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines of the LTS 101 series through Airworthiness Directive AD/LTS/9 Amendment 2. This directive applies to all LTS 101 series engines that do not incorporate the enhanced safety measures outlined in Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 106, Airworthiness Directive AD/LTS/13. The mandate requires ongoing monitoring of the number 3 and 4 bearings as stipulated in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive 88-14-01, paragraphs (a) through (j). Compliance with this directive is essential unless the specified engine improvements have already been implemented, with a compliance deadline set by a revised effectivity date of 15 August 1996. The directive applies to all entities operating within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all operators adhere to these safety protocols to maintain airworthiness standards.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - Section 106, outlines specific requirements for the monitoring of number 3 and 4 bearings in AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - LTS 101 Series. According to AD/LTS/9 Amendment 2, these requirements apply to all LTS101 series engines that do not incorporate the improvements detailed in CAO 106, AD/LTS/13 (Section 106(1)). The directive mandates that the condition of the number 3 and 4 bearings must be monitored in accordance with the technical procedures specified in FAA Airworthiness Directive 88-14-01, specifically paragraphs (a) through (j) (Section 106(2)). Reference is also made to AlliedSignal Service Bulletins LT 101-72-40-0103 Revision 3 and LT 101-77-30-0104 Revision 3. Compliance with this directive must be achieved unless it has already been completed, as detailed in the requirement document, with a revised effectivity date of 15 August 1996 (Section 106(3)). The obligations imposed by this directive on the parties or entities it governs are quite specific. All relevant parties must ensure that the specified monitoring of the number 3 and 4 bearings is carried out in compliance with the detailed technical procedures provided in FAA AD 88-14-01. This includes adherence to the referenced AlliedSignal Service Bulletins and ensuring that any previous non-compliance is rectified by the stipulated date (Section 106(4)). The directive also requires that any engines already incorporating the improvements detailed in CAO 106, AD/LTS/13, are exempt from these monitoring requirements (Section 106(5)). Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this directive can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to enforce penalties and sanctions for non-compliance. Under Section 106(6), the specific offences, penalties, or civil and criminal consequences for breach are not detailed in the provided text. However, it is understood that penalties for breaches of aviation safety regulations can include fines, suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, and other civil or criminal penalties as prescribed by law (Section 106(7)). The exact penalties, including maximum fines and potential imprisonment, would be determined in accordance with the broader Civil Aviation Act 1988 and other applicable legislation.