COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Rotax Piston Engines
AD/ROTAX/6 Camshaft Hardness Check 7/97 DM
Applicability: 1. Rotax 912 A-Series piston engines, S/N 4,380.661 up to S/N 4,380.701.
2. Rotax 912UL-Series piston engines, S/N 4,153.383 up to 4,153.500 and S/N 4,400.001 up to S/N 4,400.031.
Requirement: Inspection as prescribed in Bombardier Rotax Technical Bulletin 912-18 to be carried out. There are three steps to the Rotax directive, viz:
Step 1. Inspection of engine oil filter and magnetic drain plug before next flight.
Abnormal results of this inspection will require an engine removal and return to Rotax for repair. If inspection satisfactory, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2. Within 100 operating hours after Step 1, measure camshaft hardness. If satisfactory, engine is clear of further action and normal operations may resume. If not satisfactory, repeat Step 1 every 100 operating hours until 600 operating hours reached and then take Step 3.
Step 3. Return engine to Rotax agent for replacement of the defective camshaft.
Compliance: Step 1: Before next flight and every 100 hrs after Step 2.
Step 2: 100 operating hours after Step 1.
Step 3: 600 hrs after Step 2.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 April 1997.
Background: Following an investigation into a report of unusual wear on a Rotax 912 camshaft, it was discovered that a batch of camshafts had been subject to deviations in material hardness during manufacture. This directive identifies the suspect engines by serial number and mandates inspection to identify defective camshafts, action to monitor in- service wear, and action to remove defective camshafts from service.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically within Part 39, was enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia. One of the legislative instruments under this Act is the Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular directive, AD/ROTAX/6, was introduced to address the issue of camshaft hardness in Rotax 912 A-Series and UL-Series piston engines, where certain serial numbers were found to have manufacturing deviations in material hardness. The policy objective of this directive is to enhance aviation safety by ensuring that engines with defective camshafts are identified and rectified, thus preventing potential in-flight failures. The directive mandates a series of inspections and corrective actions to be carried out by operators of the affected engines, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed to maintain airworthiness standards.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, pertains to airworthiness directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and applies to any aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as to any aircraft registered in Australia outside the Commonwealth. AD/ROTAX/6 is focused on ensuring the safety of Rotax piston engines, which are used in various aircraft models. This directive applies to specific serial numbers of Rotax 912 A-Series and UL-Series piston engines, requiring detailed inspections and actions to be taken based on the findings. The directive mandates a three-step inspection process to ensure that camshafts within these engines meet the required hardness specifications, with escalating actions required if the camshafts are found to be defective. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the specified engine models to maintain airworthiness standards. The directive's provisions are enforceable within the geographic and jurisdictional reach of the Civil Aviation Regulations, impacting aircraft operators and maintenance personnel who must adhere to the outlined inspection and repair protocols.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39, Section 106, contain a schedule of airworthiness directives that govern the maintenance and safety of aircraft engines. One such directive, AD/ROTAX/6, pertains to camshaft hardness checks for certain Rotax piston engines (s.1). This directive applies to Rotax 912 A-Series engines with serial numbers ranging from 4,380.661 to 4,380.701 and Rotax 912UL-Series engines with serial numbers from 4,153.383 to 4,153.500 and 4,400.001 to 4,400.031 (s.2). The requirement under this directive is to conduct an inspection as prescribed in Bombardier Rotax Technical Bulletin 912-18.
The inspection process under AD/ROTAX/6 is structured in three steps. Initially, the engine oil filter and magnetic drain plug must be inspected before the next flight. If abnormal results are found, the engine must be removed and returned to Rotax for repair. If the initial inspection is satisfactory, the process moves to Step 2, which involves measuring the camshaft hardness within 100 operating hours after the first inspection. If the hardness measurement is satisfactory, the engine can resume normal operations. If not, Step 1 must be repeated every 100 operating hours until 600 operating hours have elapsed, at which point Step 3 must be taken. Step 3 requires the engine to be returned to a Rotax agent for replacement of the defective camshaft (s.3).
Compliance with this airworthiness directive is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of affected aircraft. The inspections must be carried out before the next flight for Step 1, within 100 operating hours after Step 2 for Step 2, and 600 hours after Step 2 for Step 3. This directive became effective on 30 April 1997 (s.4). Failure to comply with these requirements may result in serious safety issues, including engine failure in flight, which could have catastrophic consequences.
Failure to adhere to the provisions of AD/ROTAX/6 could result in significant consequences. The directive is designed to address a specific manufacturing defect that could lead to abnormal wear on the camshafts. If an aircraft operator fails to comply with the inspection and maintenance requirements, they may be in breach of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. This could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory sanctions. The penalties for non-compliance are intended to ensure that aircraft remain safe and airworthy, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation system.