AD/RB211/12 - N3 Governor with Approved Wear Resistance

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, contain provisions that aim to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australian airspace. One such provision is the Airworthiness Directive AD/RB211/12, which addresses the issue of excessive wear in the N3 governor of Rolls Royce RB211 Series turbine engines. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the authority of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, this directive targets engines prior to a specific serial number to mitigate the risk of operational failure due to wear. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that these engines meet specific wear resistance standards as outlined in Rolls Royce PLC Service Bulletin RB 211-73-8763 Rev 2, thereby preventing potential inoperative governing functions that could compromise flight safety. This legislative instrument underscores the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards in the aviation industry to protect both the aircraft and those on board. By mandating compliance with the specified service bulletin before a designated date, the directive aims to proactively address and rectify known issues with the engine’s governor, thereby contributing to the overall safety and reliability of air travel. The directive reflects the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's commitment to ensuring that all aircraft meet necessary safety benchmarks, thereby minimising risks associated with engine wear and potential failures.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106, includes an airworthiness directive (AD/RB211/12) that applies to Rolls Royce turbine engines of the RB211 series, namely the RB211-524G2-19, -524G2-19/11, -524G2-19/15, -524G3-19, and -524G3-19/15, with engines prior to serial number 13118. This legislation mandates actions to be taken in accordance with Rolls Royce PLC Service Bulletin RB 211-73-8763 Rev 2, which provides solutions to the issue of excessive and premature wear of the N3 governor, a critical component in the engine’s pump and governor system. This wear can lead to the governing function becoming inoperative, which poses significant safety risks. Compliance with these directives is required before 6 October 1990, ensuring that the specified engines are modified to alleviate the identified wear problem and maintain safe operational standards. This AD applies nationwide within the Commonwealth of Australia, impacting aviation entities and operators who use the specified Rolls Royce engines in their aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106, contains the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (AD) which includes AD/RB211/12 for Rolls Royce RB211 series turbine engines. This AD pertains to the N3 governor with approved wear resistance, a directive issued to address specific issues with certain Rolls Royce RB211 series engines. The directive applies to engines of specific models and serial numbers, namely RB211-524G2-19, -524G2-19/11, -524G2-19/15, -524G3-19, -524G3-19/15, and those produced before serial number 13118 (section 9/90). The directive mandates that these engines must be serviced in accordance with Rolls Royce PLC Service Bulletin RB 211-73-8763 Rev 2 to mitigate the identified issues (section Requirement). The AD/RB211/12 necessitates compliance by all parties operating affected engines. Specifically, these parties must ensure that any actions taken to address the wear resistance of the N3 governor in the Rolls Royce RB211 series engines are carried out as per the specified Rolls Royce service bulletin. This means that the modifications or checks must be implemented before the engines are used again, with a compliance deadline set prior to 6 October 1990 (section Compliance). The rationale behind this is to prevent the premature wear of the N3 governor, which can potentially render the governing function inoperative, leading to significant safety hazards in aviation operations. Failure to comply with AD/RB211/12 may result in various consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by CASA. These actions may include fines, legal proceedings, or even the grounding of aircraft until the required modifications are satisfactorily completed. The specific penalties can vary, but they are designed to ensure that all operators adhere to the safety standards set forth to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensure passenger safety. The consequences for non-compliance are severe, reflecting the critical nature of adhering to these directives.