COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes
AD/M20/41 Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers - Inspection
and Replacement
Applicability: All model M20J and M20K.
10/80
Requirement: 1. Inspect all installed Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers for fuel leaks in the area where the transducer cap and body are bonded together.
2. (a) Replace all Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers P/N 33184-1 and 32622-6 (except those with the word “FLO-SCAN” marked on bottom of transducer) and install Aerosonic replacement units identified with “FLO-SCAN”, S/No. 5000 and up.
(b) Torque fittings to 25-30 ft. lbs.
(c) Perform a system leak check.
Note: FAA AD 80-17-04 Amdt. 39-3873 and Aerosonic Service Bulletin No. 1 and No. 2 refer.
Compliance: Inspect within 25 hours time in service after 13 October 1980 and thereafter every 25 hours time in service until replaced in accordance with para. 2 above. Transducers revealing fuel leaks in the area quoted in para. 1 above must be replaced before further flight.
Background: There is evidence to suggest that the quoted Aerosonic fuel flow transducer caps may not be properly bonded in the transducer body and may separate from the body. One instance overseas of cap separation allowed fuel leakage and resulted in an engine compartment fire.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, were enacted to provide comprehensive safety regulations for civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 – 105 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives outlines mandatory safety directives for various aircraft models, including the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes. This legislative instrument addresses a gap in ensuring the structural integrity and operational safety of aircraft components. The problem it was introduced to address is the potential for fuel leaks in the Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers of model M20J and M20K aircraft, which may result from improper bonding of the transducer cap and body. This was identified following an overseas incident where a fuel leak caused by a cap separation led to an engine compartment fire. The objective of this directive, as enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, is to enhance aviation safety by requiring the inspection and replacement of specific Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers to prevent similar incidents.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the Airworthiness Directives concerning Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes, with a particular focus on Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers. This legislation applies to all model M20J and M20K aeroplanes and mandates specific inspection and replacement procedures for the Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers to ensure continued airworthiness and safety. All relevant aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel must adhere to these directives, which include inspecting installed transducers for fuel leaks in the bond area between the cap and body and replacing specified transducers with new Aerosonic units, followed by a system leak check. These requirements are mandated within 25 hours of service after the directive's issuance date of 13 October 1980 and then every 25 hours of service thereafter, with immediate replacement necessary for any transducers exhibiting fuel leaks. This directive ensures that the identified safety issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains an Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes, with the focus on the Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers. This AD is designated as AD/M20/41 and applies to all model M20J and M20K aeroplanes. The directive mandates that all installed Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers must be inspected for fuel leaks at the area where the transducer cap and body are bonded together (Section 1). Furthermore, it requires the replacement of certain Aerosonic Fuel Flow Transducers (Section 2(a)), the torque fitting to a specified range (Section 2(b)), and a system leak check post-installation (Section 2(c)). These requirements are referenced from FAA AD 80-17-04 Amdt. 39-3873 and Aerosonic Service Bulletin No. 1 and No. 2.
The AD imposes several obligations on the operators and maintainers of the Mooney M20 Series Aeroplanes. Firstly, inspections must be conducted within 25 hours of time in service after 13 October 1980 and then every 25 hours of time in service until the transducers are replaced as per the directive (Section Compliance). This periodic inspection is crucial to ensure the integrity of the fuel flow transducers and to prevent potential fuel leaks. Additionally, if a fuel leak is detected at the specified bonding area, the transducer must be replaced before the aeroplane is flown again.
The AD also outlines the consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. While specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences are not explicitly stated in the text, the directive’s stringent requirements suggest that failure to comply with the inspection and replacement mandates could lead to severe safety risks. Given the potential for fuel leaks to cause fires, as evidenced by a previous incident, non-compliance could result in significant safety hazards, including the risk of engine compartment fires. Thus, adherence to the AD is not only a regulatory requirement but also a critical safety measure.