AD/OXY/14 - Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Sweep-On Model 200 Crew Oxygen Masks

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, govern the safety standards for civil aviation in the country. Among these regulations, Part 39, specifically the Airworthiness Directives, addresses issues that impact the safety of aircraft operations. One such directive, AD/OXY/14, focuses on ensuring the airworthiness of oxygen systems in specific aircraft models by mandating compliance with certain safety standards. This directive was introduced to address the problem of misalignment of the demand diaphragm in Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Sweep-On Model 2000 crew oxygen masks, which can hinder the proper operation of the exhalation valve. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that these oxygen systems are correctly aligned and functional, thereby preventing potential difficulties during emergency situations. Compliance with these directives is required to maintain the safety and reliability of the specified aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 107, applies to the safety standards of aircraft oxygen systems, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This legislation pertains to specific models of crew oxygen masks manufactured by Puritan Bennett Aero Systems, namely the Sweep-On Model 200, with certain part number series and serial number ranges that lack a tamper seal. These oxygen masks are installed in various aircraft models including Beech, Cessna, Dassault Mystere Falcon, Dornier, Gulfstream, and Raytheon Corporate Jets. The regulation mandates compliance with Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Service Bulletin 174250-35-1 dated August 1994, to rectify the issue of difficulty in exhaling due to misalignment of the demand diaphragm in the masks. The requirement for compliance must be fulfilled prior to 31 December 1994, ensuring that the exhalation valve operates correctly by properly aligning the demand diaphragm. The scope of the regulation is geographically and jurisdictionally limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by CASA. There are no exclusions or exemptions explicitly stated in the provided text, and compliance is strictly mandated for the specified oxygen masks in the listed aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, outlines the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). Among these, AD/OXY/14 pertains to the Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Sweep-On Model 2000 crew oxygen masks. This directive applies to masks that lack a tamper seal and fall within the specified series and serial number ranges (Section 1). These masks are known to be installed in various aircraft models, including Beech Model 400, Cessna Models 500, 501, 550, S550, 551, and 650, Dassault Mystere Falcon Model 20, Dornier Models 228 and 328, Gulfstream Models G-1159 (G-II) and G-1159A (G-III), and Raytheon Corporate Jets Model HS 125-700. Under this directive, the required action is in accordance with Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Service Bulletin 174250-35-1 dated August 1994. This action is necessary to address reported difficulties in exhaling through the masks, which are due to misalignment of the demand diaphragm. Ensuring that the demand diaphragm is correctly aligned within the mask will facilitate the proper operation of the exhalation valve, thereby enhancing safety. Compliance with this directive must be achieved prior to 31 December 1994, as indicated in Section 3. Entities governed by this Act are required to inspect the Puritan Bennett Aero Systems Sweep-On Model 2000 crew oxygen masks to verify they meet the specifications outlined in the directive. This includes checking the masks against the listed series and serial number ranges to determine applicability. Once identified, the affected masks must be aligned correctly as per the Service Bulletin to prevent any operational issues during flight. This inspection and compliance must be documented and reported to CASA as required. Failure to comply with AD/OXY/14 may result in regulatory consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify the exact penalties for non-compliance within this directive, but general penalties for non-compliance with CASA directives can include fines and potential grounding of the aircraft. In severe cases, continued non-compliance may lead to more stringent enforcement actions, including legal proceedings against the operators or manufacturers involved. It is imperative for all parties to adhere to the directive to avoid these adverse outcomes.