AD/MU-2/21 Amdt 1 - Outer Fuel Tank Switch Wiring - Modification

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were enacted to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australia, thereby addressing the need for stringent regulations and safety directives to prevent accidents and incidents. A specific legislative instrument under this regulation is F2006B11350, which pertains to Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes. This instrument, AD/MU-2/21, was introduced to address a critical safety concern involving the outer fuel tank switch wiring on these aircraft models. The policy objective behind this amendment is to prevent the unintentional transfer of fuel overboard, which could potentially occur when the FUEL/TRANSFER switch is in the TIP MAN position and the outer pump switch is set to MANUAL, both on the ground and during flight. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, requiring affected aircraft to undergo the specified modifications within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1980, as detailed in Mitsubishi SB No. SB013/28-001 or SB014/28-002, as applicable.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, mandate the issuance of airworthiness directives for various aircraft, including Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all models MU-2B-25/-26/-26A/-35/-36A/-40/-60, including those that have previously complied with specific service requirements outlined in SR017/28-001 dated 25 July 1979, as well as to specific serial numbers of the MU-2B-40 and MU-2B-60 models. The directive requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1980, as detailed in Mitsubishi SB No. SB013/28-001 or SB014/28-002, depending on the applicable model. The directive's geographic reach is nationwide, impacting all aircraft registered in Australia. No exclusions or exemptions are specified in this directive; it applies universally to the identified aircraft models within the scope of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. The application of these regulations may be extended or modified through subordinate instruments issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39 - 105, include a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) that mandate modifications and compliance for various aircraft types. One such directive, AD/MU-2/21 Amendment 1, pertains to the Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes and concerns the outer fuel tank switch wiring (section 10/84). This directive applies to all MU-2B-25/-26/-26A/-35/-36A/-40/-60 models, including those that previously adhered to SR017/28-001 dated 25 July 1979. Additionally, it specifies particular serial numbers for models MU-2B-40 and MU-2B-60 that must comply with the requirements outlined in the directive. The primary requirement of AD/MU-2/21 Amendment 1 is that affected aircraft must comply with Mitsubishi Service Bulletins (SB) No. SB013/28-001 or SB014/28-002 as applicable. This involves modifying the wiring to prevent the possibility of fuel being transferred overboard either on the ground or in flight from the outer tanks when the FUEL/TRANSFER switch is in the TIP MAN position and the outer pump switch is in MANUAL. This modification must be completed within the next 100 hours of time in service after 31 January 1980. Operators and owners of Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes falling under this directive are obligated to ensure that their aircraft meet the specified requirements. This includes conducting the necessary modifications to the fuel tank switch wiring as per the Mitsubishi Service Bulletins. Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in serious safety risks, including potential fuel leaks that could compromise the aircraft’s safety and performance. Breach of the requirements set forth in AD/MU-2/21 Amendment 1 can lead to significant consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions may include grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications are made, fines, and potentially more severe sanctions depending on the circumstances and the impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety. Ensuring adherence to these directives is critical to maintaining the airworthiness and safety of the Mitsubishi MU-2 series aeroplanes.