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/16 Inspect/Replace Engine Mount 12/2003
Applicability: Rotax 912 A/F/S series and Rotax 914 F series engines equipped with Rotax engine mount Part Number (P/N) 886567 and having serial numbers as detailed in Rotax SB- 912-028R1/SB-914-016R1.
Requirement: 1. Initially, inspect the engine mount and thereafter repeat the inspection in accordance with instructions contained in Rotax Service Bulletin (SB) 912- 028R1 or Rotax SB 914-016R1, as appropriate.
2. If cracks are detected when carrying out Requirement 1, replace engine mount with P/N 886568 Rotax engine mount in accordance with instructions contained in Rotax SB 912-028R1 or Rotax SB 914-016R1, as appropriate.
Terminating Action
Replacement of the engine mount, as required by Requirement 2 of this Directive, constitutes compliance with the initial inspection and repeat inspections required by Requirement 1 this Directive.
Note 1: Reference to ferry flight approval contained in the Requirement documents of this Directive DOES NOT automatically constitute approval for Australian registered aircraft.
Note 2: Austrian CAA AD 105R1 refers.
Compliance: For Requirement 1: Every 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) from the effective date of this Directive.
For Requirement 2: Before further flight.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 November 2003.
Rotax Piston Engines
AD/ROTAX/16 (continued)
Background: Cracks have been detected on Rotax engine mount P/N 886567 which could have been caused by a number of reasons outlined in the SB’s relevant to this Directive. The intent of this Directive is to inspect the engine mount at regular intervals until the engine mount is replaced by Rotax engine mount P/N 886568.
Jim Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 October 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued the Airworthiness Directive (AD) under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) to address the safety concern of potential cracks in the engine mount of certain Rotax engines. AD/ROTAX/16, effective from 27 November 2003, mandates regular inspections and the replacement of engine mounts for specified Rotax 912 A/F/S and 914 F series engines, to ensure that any detected cracks are rectified before further flight. This directive was issued in response to detected cracks on engine mount P/N 886567, which could lead to unsafe conditions if not addressed. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by mitigating the risk associated with engine mount failures.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pertains specifically to Rotax 912 A/F/S series and Rotax 914 F series engines equipped with specific engine mount part numbers and serial numbers, as detailed in the relevant Rotax Service Bulletins. This AD applies to aircraft operators and maintenance personnel who are responsible for ensuring that the specified engines comply with the outlined safety requirements. The directive's geographic reach is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that Australian-registered aircraft adhere to these safety standards. Notably, the AD does not automatically provide ferry flight approval for Australian-registered aircraft. Compliance with the AD is mandatory for the specified aircraft and engine configurations, with initial inspections required every 100 hours of time-in-service from the effective date of the directive, and immediate replacement of the engine mount if cracks are detected before further flight. The AD extends its application through subordinate instruments, such as the referenced Rotax Service Bulletins, which provide detailed instructions for the inspections and replacements required by the directive.
Key Provisions
The Airworthiness Directive AD/ROTAX/16, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) 1998, outlines specific requirements for the inspection and replacement of engine mounts for certain Rotax engines. This directive applies to Rotax 912 A/F/S series and Rotax 914 F series engines equipped with a particular engine mount part number (P/N 886567) and meeting the serial number criteria detailed in Rotax Service Bulletins (SB) 912-028R1 and SB 914-016R1. The directive requires that the engine mount be inspected every 100 hours of time-in-service (TIS) from the effective date of the directive, as per Requirement 1. If cracks are detected during the inspection, the engine mount must be replaced with P/N 886568, following the instructions in the respective service bulletins, as stipulated in Requirement 2. This replacement action terminates further compliance with the initial and repeat inspection requirements.
Entities governed by this directive, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must adhere to the outlined inspection and replacement schedule. They are required to perform the initial inspection and subsequent inspections as per the specified intervals, and if cracks are found, the engine mount must be replaced before any further flight, ensuring the aircraft remains airworthy. Furthermore, it is important to note that ferry flight approval mentioned in the requirement documents does not automatically constitute approval for Australian registered aircraft.
Failure to comply with the AD may lead to various consequences. The directive does not specify explicit penalties, but non-compliance could result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which might lead to enforcement actions by CASA. Such actions could include grounding of the aircraft, fines, and other regulatory measures to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Ensuring adherence to the AD is critical to maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and avoiding potential safety hazards.