COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Lycoming Piston Engines
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.
AD/LYC/105
Amdt 1
Oil Filter Converter Plate Gasket 12/2000 DM
Applicability: Lycoming piston engines, as detailed by model in Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 543A, which were
1: Released new, rebuilt or overhauled by Textron Lycoming in the period 1 April 1999 to 4 October 2000, or
2: Has had an oil filter converter plate P/N LW-13904 and/or the oil filter converter plate gasket P/N LW-13388 gasket installed either at engine overhaul or in service since 1 April 1999.
Note 1: This Directive does not apply to engines fitted with a canister style oil filter.
Requirement: 1: Inspect the engine for both:
(a) evidence of an oil leak from the oil filter converter plate gasket, or
(b) evidence of the oil filter converter plate gasket extruding beyond the perimeter of the plate.
2: Rectify any evidence of an oil leak or if the gasket is damaged, displaced, deteriorated or extruding from the oil filter converter plate by replacing the oil filter converter plate gasket in accordance with Textron Lycoming MSB 543A or Part II of Supplement 1 to Textron Lycoming MSB 543A.
3: Replace P/N LW-13388 oil filter converter plate gasket in accordance with Textron Lycoming MSB 543A.
Note 2: FAA AD 2000-18-53 and Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) refers.
Note 3: Compliance with Part II or Part III of Supplement 1 to MSB 543A provides a terminating action for the requirements of this Directive. CASA recommends compliance prior to 31 December 2000.
Compliance: 1: Inspection: Unchanged from original issue. If engine has completed more than 50 hours since replacement of oil filter converter plate gasket, within 5 hours time in service from 20 September 2000. In other cases, within 10 hours time in service from 20 September 2000.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
2: Rectification: Before further flight.
3: Replacement as per MSB 543A: Within 50 hours time in service from 20 September 2000, the effective date of the original issue of this Directive, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 55 hours time in service, until compliance with Part II or Part III of Supplement 1 to MSB 543A.
This Amendment becomes effective on 18 October 2000.
Background: This Directive was originally issued to require an inspection and replacement of certain oil filter adaptor plate gaskets. The requirement was in response to reports of oil leaks from P/N LW-13388 gaskets installed since April 1999. This amendment reflects the manufacturer’s release of an improved gasket which eliminates the need for an inspection and repetitive gasket replacement. The amendment provides a terminating action for the requirements of the original issue of this directive.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 12 October 2000
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 October 2000.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) were enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia, including the regulation of aircraft maintenance and airworthiness. A specific focus of the CAR 1998 is addressed through Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), an agency responsible for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in Australia. One such AD, AD/LYC/105Amdt 1, was issued in 2000 to address the issue of oil leaks from Lycoming piston engines installed in certain aircraft. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of engine failure due to compromised oil seals, which could potentially lead to catastrophic outcomes. CASA, as the delegate, issued this directive under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998, with the policy objective of enhancing aviation safety by requiring specific actions to be taken on affected engines. The directive mandates inspections, rectifications, and replacements of oil filter converter plate gaskets to prevent oil leaks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the affected engines.
Scope and Application
This Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Lycoming piston engines manufactured by Textron Lycoming, specifically those released new, rebuilt, or overhauled between 1 April 1999 and 4 October 2000, or those that have had an oil filter converter plate gasket installed since 1 April 1999, unless the engine is fitted with a canister style oil filter. The directive aims to address safety concerns identified in Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 543A regarding potential oil leaks from the oil filter converter plate gasket. The directive mandates an inspection for oil leaks or gasket extrusion, followed by rectification or replacement of the gasket in accordance with Textron Lycoming MSB 543A or its supplement. Compliance with Part II or Part III of Supplement 1 to MSB 543A serves as a terminating action for the directive's requirements. CASA recommends compliance with the directive's requirements before 31 December 2000. This AD is applicable throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and was issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 106, specifically addresses airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for Lycoming piston engines. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, AD/LYC/105 Amendment 1, pertains to oil filter converter plate gaskets and applies to Lycoming piston engines released between 1 April 1999 and 4 October 2000, or those that have had an oil filter converter plate gasket P/N LW-13904 or LW-13388 installed since 1 April 1999. This directive is not applicable to engines equipped with a canister style oil filter. The directive mandates inspection for signs of oil leaks or gasket issues, followed by rectification or replacement as per Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 543A or its supplements.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties involved. Operators of Lycoming piston engines within the scope of this directive are required to inspect their engines for signs of oil leaks from the oil filter converter plate gasket or for the gasket extruding beyond the plate. If any issues are detected, they must rectify them by replacing the gasket in accordance with Textron Lycoming MSB 543A or Part II of Supplement 1 to MSB 543A. The replacement of the P/N LW-13388 oil filter converter plate gasket must also be carried out according to the same documentation. CASA recommends that compliance should be achieved before 31 December 2000, with inspections conducted within specific timeframes depending on the engine's service hours since the last gasket replacement.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD can lead to significant consequences. While the Civil Aviation Regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with ADs, non-compliance could potentially result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which carries severe legal and safety repercussions. Operators must ensure that they adhere to the specified timelines and procedures to avoid any potential issues with airworthiness certification. CASA's delegate, Eugene Paul Holzapfel, issued this AD to address safety concerns and ensure the continued airworthiness of Lycoming piston engines within the specified timeframes.