COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), 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 CASR 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.
Rotax Piston Engines
AD/ROTAX/10 Crack Inspection 11/2001
Applicability: Rotax 914 F series engines. Requirement: Inspect the following:
- Crankcase in accordance with Rotax Service Bulletin SB-914-018; and
2. Engine suspension frame in accordance with Rotax Service Bulletin SB-914-016; and
3. The exhaust bend in accordance with Rotax Service Bulletin SB-914-017.
Note: Austrian AD No. 103 refers.
Compliance: Unless previously accomplished, within 10 hours time in service and thereafter, for Requirements 1 and 2, at intervals not to exceed 110 hours, and for Requirement 3, at intervals not to exceed 55 hours.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 November 2001.
Background: This Directive has been issued to require inspection of certain engine parts for cracks.
The requirement follows reports of cracks found in Rotax 914F powered Diamond HK36 sailplanes. The defects are not considered to be limited to Diamond aircraft.
Eugene Paul Holzapfel
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 September 2001
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 10 October 2001.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, enacted in 1998, were introduced to provide comprehensive safety regulations for civil aviation within Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the authority of the Australian government issues Airworthiness Directives to ensure the safety of aircraft and aeronautical products. One such directive, AD/ROTAX/10, was issued on 1 November 2001, targeting the inspection of Rotax 914 F series engines to address the issue of cracks in specific engine parts. This directive was issued in response to reports of cracks in Rotax 914F engines used in Diamond HK36 sailplanes, aiming to prevent unsafe conditions in aviation by mandating regular inspections according to specified intervals. The directive is enforced under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, with the policy objective of ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft by mitigating the risk of engine failure due to undetected cracks.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically the Airworthiness Directive AD/ROTAX/10 Crack Inspection 11/2001, applies to Rotax 914 F series engines used in aircraft. This legislation mandates inspections for cracks in certain engine parts, following reports of such defects in Rotax 914F powered Diamond HK36 sailplanes. The inspections are required to ensure the safety of the aircraft and are applicable on a national level throughout Australia. The directive applies to the specific engine parts, namely the crankcase, engine suspension frame, and exhaust bend, and must be conducted in accordance with designated Rotax Service Bulletins and at prescribed intervals. The AD does not specify exclusions or exemptions, though compliance must be achieved within the stated timeframes, with immediate action required for inspections not previously accomplished, and subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 110 hours for the crankcase and engine suspension frame, and 55 hours for the exhaust bend. The directive extends its reach through the notification process in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are informed and compliant with the stipulated safety measures.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) sets out specific requirements for the inspection of Rotax 914 F series engines. According to the directive (AD/ROTAX/10 Crack Inspection 11/2001), the applicable engines are the Rotax 914 F series. The directive mandates that certain components of these engines must be inspected for cracks. Specifically, the crankcase must be inspected according to Rotax Service Bulletin SB-914-018, the engine suspension frame according to SB-914-016, and the exhaust bend according to SB-914-017. These inspections are necessary to identify and address any potential unsafe conditions that could compromise the aircraft's airworthiness.
The obligations imposed by this AD require the owner or operator of the aircraft equipped with the specified Rotax engines to ensure that the required inspections are performed. The directive specifies that these inspections must be conducted unless they have already been completed. For the initial inspection, it must be carried out within 10 hours of the engine being placed in service. Subsequent inspections for the crankcase and engine suspension frame must occur at intervals not exceeding 110 hours, while the inspection for the exhaust bend must occur at intervals not exceeding 55 hours. Compliance with these inspection intervals is critical to maintaining the safety standards required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with airworthiness directives is a breach of the CASR 1998. Such breaches can lead to enforcement actions, including fines and penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in this particular AD, CASA has the authority to impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness regulations. Additionally, operating an aircraft that does not comply with ADs may result in the aircraft being grounded, which could have severe operational and safety implications for the operator and passengers.