COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Pratt and Whitney Canada Turbine Engines - PT6A Series
AD/PT6A/8 Compressor Rear Hub Hardness 10/85
Applicability: PT6A-6, -6A, -6B, -20 and PT6B-9 which do not include the intent of SB No. 1079 (old No. 119, Rev. 2) or SB No. 1094 (old No. 140, Rev. 3).
Document: 1. UACL SB No. 62, Rev. 3;
2. UACL SB No. 1035, or
3. AD/UAC-T/2B.
Compliance: Before installation in an aircraft following next reconditioning completed after 21 November 1969.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically addresses the safety and maintenance requirements for civil aircraft, their operations, and associated personnel. This regulatory framework was enacted to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia by establishing comprehensive standards and directives. One of the specific directives under this legislation is AD/PT6A/8, which pertains to the Pratt and Whitney Canada Turbine Engines of the PT6A Series, focusing on the compressor rear hub hardness. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues associated with the hardness of the compressor rear hub, ensuring that the specified engines meet necessary safety standards before being installed in aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, acting under the authority of the Australian Parliament, enforces these regulations to maintain high safety standards in the civil aviation sector. The overarching policy objective is to safeguard the integrity of aircraft operations and public safety by enforcing stringent airworthiness directives.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, applies to Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A series turbine engines, including models PT6A-6, -6A, -6B, -20 and PT6B-9, that do not incorporate the improvements outlined in Service Bulletins (SB) No. 1079 (previously SB No. 119, Rev. 2) and SB No. 1094 (previously SB No. 140, Rev. 3). This legislation mandates compliance with certain airworthiness directives concerning the compressor rear hub hardness, as specified in AD/PT6A/8 10/85. Compliance with these directives is required before these engines are reinstalled in an aircraft following any reconditioning completed after 21 November 1969. The legislation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that all relevant aircraft and engine operators adhere to the specified safety standards. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but its application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments or additional directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically the Airworthiness Directive (AD) concerning Pratt and Whitney Canada's PT6A series turbine engines, are outlined in PART 39 - 106. This directive, AD/PT6A/8, focuses on the compressor rear hub hardness of the PT6A engines (sections 10/85). The directive applies to PT6A-6, -6A, -6B, -20 and PT6B-9 engines, except those that have already incorporated Service Bulletins (SB) No. 1079 (old No. 119, Rev. 2) or SB No. 1094 (old No. 140, Rev. 3) (section 10/85).
The main requirement under this directive is that the compressor rear hub hardness must comply with specific standards before the engine is reconditioned and installed in an aircraft. The compliance is to be achieved by referring to UACL SB No. 62, Rev. 3, UACL SB No. 1035, or AD/UAC-T/2B (section 10/85). The compliance must be completed before the next reconditioning, which must occur after 21 November 1969 (section 10/85).
The obligations imposed by this directive include ensuring that the compressor rear hub hardness of the PT6A series engines meets the specified standards before any reconditioning and installation in an aircraft. Operators and maintainers must adhere to the referenced service bulletins and directives to ensure compliance with the airworthiness requirements.
Failure to comply with the AD/PT6A/8 directive can result in serious safety risks, potentially leading to engine failure during operation. The consequences of non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but they could include grounding of the aircraft, enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and possible civil or criminal penalties. The exact nature and severity of these penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and any additional regulations or legal provisions that apply.