COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PW4000/7 and issues the following 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.
Pratt & Whitney Turbine Engines - PW4000 Series
AD/PW4000/7
Amdt 1
Low Pressure Turbine Fourth Stage Airseal 11/2001
DM
Applicability: PW4000 series engines incorporating low pressure turbine 4th stage airseal, P/No 50N478 or 50N478-001.
Requirement: Replace low pressure turbine 4th stage airseals, P/No 50N478 or 50N478-001 in accordance with the technical requirements of FAA AD 2001-05-07.
Compliance: Comply with the requirements of this airworthiness directive at the periods specified in FAA AD 2001-05-07.
Note: FAA AD 2001-05-07 supersedes FAA AD 2000-25-06.
This Amendment becomes effective on 3 October 2001.
Background: This Airworthiness Directive is prompted by reports of cracked low pressure turbine 4th stage airseals. Seal fracture could result in an uncontained engine failure leading to damage to the aircraft.
This amendment references new FAA AD 2001-05-07 which supersedes FAA AD 2000-25-06 to correct an error relating to engines affected by P7W SB PW4 ENG 72- 657, Revision 1.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective 31 January 2001.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 24 September 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 3 October 2001.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, address the need for ensuring the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products through comprehensive regulations and directives. One of the critical components of this legislative framework is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) which issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to manage and mitigate safety risks. The specific AD in question, AD/PW4000/7 Amendment 1, was introduced to address the safety issue of cracked low pressure turbine 4th stage airseals in Pratt & Whitney Turbine Engines of the PW4000 series. The directive mandates the replacement of the affected airseals to prevent potential uncontained engine failures that could damage the aircraft. This AD is a direct response to reports highlighting the risk of seal fractures and aims to ensure compliance with the technical requirements outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain airworthiness standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, pertains to Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) is applicable to PW4000 series engines that incorporate a low pressure turbine 4th stage airseal, specifically those with the parts numbers 50N478 or 50N478-001. This AD aims to address safety concerns by mandating the replacement of these airseals in accordance with the technical requirements outlined in FAA AD 2001-05-07, which supersedes FAA AD 2000-25-06. The directive seeks to prevent seal fractures that could lead to uncontained engine failures and subsequent damage to the aircraft. Compliance with this AD must be achieved within the specified periods detailed in the referenced FAA AD 2001-05-07, and the amendment to this AD became effective on 3 October 2001. This legislation applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and is part of the overarching regulatory framework governing civil aviation safety.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) are the applicability, requirement, and compliance sections. The applicability section (1) specifies that the directive applies to Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines that incorporate the low pressure turbine 4th stage airseal with part numbers 50N478 or 50N478-001. The requirement section (2) mandates the replacement of these specific airseals in accordance with the technical requirements set out in FAA AD 2001-05-07. The compliance section (3) directs that the requirements of this airworthiness directive must be met within the timeframes specified in FAA AD 2001-05-07.
The obligations imposed by this AD include ensuring that affected engines are inspected and any defective low pressure turbine 4th stage airseals are replaced. This is to mitigate the risk of seal fractures, which could result in uncontained engine failure and subsequent damage to the aircraft. The directive specifically references FAA AD 2001-05-07 for the technical requirements and compliance timeframes, indicating that the AD is closely aligned with FAA directives to ensure uniformity and safety standards across international aviation.
Failure to comply with the AD could result in significant civil or criminal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within the AD itself, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to severe penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and CAR 1998. These penalties may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and in severe cases, criminal charges against individuals responsible for the non-compliance. The maximum penalties can vary widely depending on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are intended to enforce strict adherence to aviation safety regulations.