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 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.
Pratt and Whitney Canada Turbine Engines - PW500 Series
AD/PW500/1 Flexible Fuel Tubes 1/2003
Applicability: All Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW530A engines up to and including serial number PCE-DA0472.
All P&WC PW535A engines up to and including serial number PCE-DC0161.
All P&WC PW545A engines up to and including serial number PCE-DB0540, except serial number PCE-DB0534.
Requirement: Unless previously accomplished, inspect the flexible fuel tube in accordance with P&WC Service Bulletin 30217 R1.
Note 1: Canadian AD CF-2002-42 refers.
Note 2: Inspections accomplished in accordance with P&WC SB 30217 meet the intent of this Directive.
Compliance: Within 50 flight hours or 60 days from the effective date of this Directive, whichever comes first.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 23 January 2003.
Background: There have been incidents of fuel leakage from the flexible fuel tube between the fuel oil heater and the integral fuel control unit fuel pump. This Directive requires a one- time inspection of the flexible fuel tube for damage.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 27 November 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 December 2002.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) are a pivotal piece of Australian legislation that provides the regulatory framework for civil aviation safety in Australia. Enacted in 1998, these regulations were designed to fill the gap in providing comprehensive and cohesive oversight of the aviation industry, ensuring that safety standards are uniformly applied and maintained. The CAR 1998 is administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which acts as the delegate of the Commonwealth Government in enforcing these regulations. The overarching policy objective of the CAR 1998 is to safeguard the public by ensuring that civil aviation operations are conducted in a safe and efficient manner, which includes addressing specific safety concerns through Airworthiness Directives (ADs) such as AD/PW500/1 issued under subregulation 39.1(1). This particular AD mandates a one-time inspection of flexible fuel tubes in specified Pratt and Whitney Canada Turbine Engines to prevent fuel leakage, thereby mitigating potential safety hazards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39, apply to all Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW530A, PW535A, and PW545A turbine engines within certain serial number ranges, except for PW545A engine with serial number PCE-DB0534. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 mandates that a one-time inspection of the flexible fuel tube must be conducted to prevent fuel leakage incidents, as highlighted in the background section. The directive applies to all the specified engines in the mentioned serial number ranges and requires the inspection to be completed within 50 flight hours or 60 days from the effective date of the directive, whichever comes first. This directive is applicable nationally and extends its reach to all aircraft operators within Australia, ensuring compliance with safety standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) under PART 39, specifically section 106, mandate that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can issue Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. An example of such an AD is AD/PW500/1 concerning Pratt and Whitney Canada (P&WC) turbine engines of the PW500 series, issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. This AD applies to all PW530A engines up to serial number PCE-DA0472, all PW535A engines up to serial number PCE-DC0161, and all PW545A engines up to serial number PCE-DB0540, excluding PCE-DB0534.
The AD requires that unless previously performed, the flexible fuel tube between the fuel oil heater and the integral fuel control unit fuel pump must be inspected in accordance with P&WC Service Bulletin 30217 R1. This inspection is intended to address incidents of fuel leakage that have been reported. The directive specifies that the inspection must be completed within 50 flight hours or 60 days from the effective date of the AD, whichever comes first. This AD became effective on 23 January 2003.
Entities and parties governed by this AD, primarily the operators and maintenance personnel of the specified aircraft engines, are obligated to comply with the inspection requirements set forth in AD/PW500/1. Failure to adhere to the inspection directive within the stipulated timeframe may result in the engine being considered unairworthy, potentially leading to grounding of the aircraft until the required action is taken.
For breaches of the AD, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may impose penalties, though specific penalties are not detailed in the AD itself. Generally, non-compliance with ADs can result in civil penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which could include substantial fines. Additionally, the CASA can take enforcement actions, such as imposing operational restrictions on the aircraft until compliance is achieved. In more severe cases, criminal charges could be pursued, particularly if the non-compliance results in safety hazards or accidents.