COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Walter Turbine Engines - M601 Series
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/M601/1 Fuel Control Unit 10/2001 DM
Applicability: M601 series engines detailed in Walter Mandatory Bulletin Number: A M6O1D/29a, A M601D-1/3a, A M601D-11NZ/3a, A M601E/23a, A M601E-11/4a, A M601E- 21/2a, A M601F/3a, A M601T/7a, A M601Z/15a.
Requirement: Replace the fuel control unit relief valve in accordance with the accomplishment instructions detailed in the Mandatory Bulletin Number: A M6O1D/29a, A M601D- 1/3a, A M601D-11NZ/3a, A M601E/23a, A M601E-11/4a, A M601E-21/2a, A M601F/3a, A M601T/7a, A M601Z/15a.
Note: Czech Republic Airworthiness Directive T-095/2000 refers.
Compliance: 1. Single engine aircraft; prior to further flight, effective 22 August 2001.
2. Multi engine aircraft; no later than 31 October 2001.
3. Spare fuel control units; prior to installation in an aircraft.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 22 August 2001.
Background: This Directive has been issued to require the replacement of the FCU relief valve. The requirement is in response to reports of fuel leaks from the FCU servomotor relief valve. The fuel leaks result from failure of the relief valve seals.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 August 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 August 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, establish a framework for ensuring the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. The 1998 regulations were enacted to provide a comprehensive legal basis for the regulation of civil aviation safety in Australia, addressing gaps in previous legislation and aligning with international standards. This Airworthiness Directive (AD) was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), an agency of the Australian government responsible for regulating civil aviation safety. The policy objective behind the AD is to mandate the replacement of the fuel control unit relief valve in certain M601 series Walter Turbine engines to prevent fuel leaks, thereby enhancing the overall safety of civil aviation operations. The AD is designed to be effective immediately for single-engine aircraft and within a specified timeframe for multi-engine aircraft and spare units, reflecting the urgency and importance of addressing this safety issue.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive applies to specific M601 series Walter Turbine Engines used in various aircraft, as identified in the Walter Mandatory Bulletins referenced in the AD. These bulletins detail the specific engines subject to the directive, which include models such as M601D/29a, M601D-1/3a, M601D-11NZ/3a, M601E/23a, M601E-11/4a, M601E-21/2a, M601F/3a, M601T/7a, and M601Z/15a. The directive is applicable to both single and multi-engine aircraft and mandates the replacement of the fuel control unit relief valve to address reports of fuel leaks resulting from failed relief valve seals. The directive applies nationally within Australia, as it is issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The compliance deadlines specified are 22 August 2001 for single engine aircraft and 31 October 2001 for multi-engine aircraft, with a further requirement for spare fuel control units to be replaced prior to installation in any aircraft.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, Section 106, includes provisions for issuing Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of civil aviation. This includes AD/M601/1, which pertains to the M601 series Walter turbine engines (section 106). The directive mandates that the fuel control unit relief valve in certain M601 series engines be replaced due to reports of fuel leaks from the FCU servomotor relief valve, a consequence of failed relief valve seals (section 106(a)). The applicability of this directive covers specific M601 series engines listed in the directive, with reference to particular mandatory bulletin numbers (section 106(a)).
Obligations under this directive require that the fuel control unit relief valve be replaced in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in the referenced mandatory bulletins (section 106(b)). This includes single engine aircraft needing compliance prior to further flight and multi-engine aircraft needing compliance by a specified date (section 106(b)(1)-(2)). Additionally, any spare fuel control units must be replaced prior to installation in an aircraft (section 106(b)(3)). This directive was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, Eugene Paul Holzapfel, on 13 August 2001, and became effective on 22 August 2001 (section 106(c)).
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can lead to significant consequences. Non-compliance may result in the unsafe condition not being rectified, which could potentially lead to fuel leaks, affecting the engine’s performance and overall aircraft safety. The directive was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 22 August 2001 to ensure wide dissemination and compliance among relevant parties (section 106(c)). While the regulations do not specify particular penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance could result in enforcement actions by CASA, potentially including fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory measures to ensure safety standards are met.