COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ROTAX/17 and issues the following 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/17
Amdt 1
Cracks in the Crankcase 12/2004
Applicability: Rotax 912 A, 912 F, 912 S series and 914 F series aircraft engines..
Requirement: 1. Initially, carry out a detailed visual inspection of the crankcase for cracks in accordance with instructions contained in Rotax Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) SB-912-029 R2 / SB-914-018 R2 or later revision as approved by Austrian
ACG / EASA.
2. Repeat the inspection required by Requirement 1.
Note: AD A-2004-01 published by Austrian ACG and approved under EASA reference No 2004-9379 dated 07 September 2004 refers.
Compliance: 1. Unless previously accomplished in accordance with the original issue of this directive or referred SB, within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) from the effective date of this Directive.
2. Every 100 hours TIS after the initial inspection required by Requirement 1. This Amendment becomes effective on 25 November 2004.
Background: Initial issue of this directive addressed an unsafe condition caused by cracks on the Rotax engine crankcases and required inspection at the regular intervals.
This amendment addresses the same unsafe condition but with the expanded applicability list and additional inspections as detailed in revised Service Bulletin by the manufacturer and the Austrian ACG Airworthiness Directive.
The original issue of this directive became effective on 27 November 2003.
James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 October 2004
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 3 November 2004.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), under Part 39, introduced a legislative framework aimed at ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations were designed to address safety gaps and ensure compliance with international standards. Specifically, the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ROTAX/17 Amendment 1, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), was introduced to tackle the issue of cracks in the crankcases of Rotax 912 A, 912 F, 912 S series, and 914 F series aircraft engines. This amendment mandates a detailed visual inspection of the crankcase for cracks and stipulates regular inspection intervals to mitigate the identified unsafe condition. The directive was established to maintain the integrity of these engines and prevent potential failures, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), as amended, specifically under Part 39 - 106, addresses safety directives for aircraft and aeronautical products within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive (AD) pertains to the inspection and rectification of cracks in the crankcases of Rotax 912 A, 912 F, 912 S series, and 914 F series aircraft engines. The directive applies to any aircraft equipped with these specific engine types operating within Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The AD mandates that a detailed visual inspection be carried out to detect any cracks in the engine crankcase, following the instructions provided in the Rotax Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-912-029 R2 / SB-914-018 R2 or any later revision approved by AustrianACG/EASA. The initial inspection must occur within 50 hours time-in-service from the effective date of the directive, with subsequent inspections required every 100 hours time-in-service thereafter. This directive aims to mitigate the risk of unsafe conditions arising from such cracks and ensures compliance with both national and international safety standards.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106, outlines a series of directives concerning airworthiness, including the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/ROTAX/17 Amendment 1. This AD pertains to the inspection of Rotax piston engines used in various aircraft series. The directive mandates that a detailed visual inspection of the crankcase must be conducted for any cracks, initially within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) from the effective date of the directive, and subsequently every 100 hours TIS thereafter. This inspection must adhere to the instructions provided in the Rotax Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) SB-912-029 R2 / SB-914-018 R2 or later revisions approved by Austrian ACG / EASA. The directive applies to the Rotax 912 A, 912 F, 912 S series and 914 F series aircraft engines.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and maintainers of the affected aircraft. Primarily, they must ensure that the detailed visual inspection of the crankcase is performed according to the specified requirements and within the stipulated time frames. This includes conducting the initial inspection within 50 hours TIS from the directive's effective date and repeating the inspection every 100 hours TIS following the initial inspection. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant safety risks, given that the directive addresses an unsafe condition identified by the manufacturer and the Austrian ACG Airworthiness Directive.
Failure to adhere to the requirements of the AD AD/ROTAX/17 Amendment 1 may result in serious consequences. Non-compliance with the airworthiness directives can lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary inspections and any required repairs are completed. Such non-compliance could also result in regulatory actions against the aircraft operator or maintainer, potentially including fines or other civil penalties as determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The exact penalties are not explicitly stated in the AD but could be severe, reflecting the importance of maintaining airworthiness standards to ensure the safety of all personnel involved in aviation activities.