Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically PART 39 - 106 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, address the ongoing issue of Stage 2 Low Pressure Turbine Blade failures in Rolls Royce Spey engines. This legislation was enacted to rectify unsafe conditions that could potentially lead to catastrophic failures in service. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), as the delegate of the Commonwealth of Australia, introduced this Airworthiness Directive (AD/RRT-S/15) to mandate specific corrective actions to ensure the safety and reliability of the affected aircraft engines. The primary policy objective is to mitigate the risk of in-service failures by replacing the Stage 2 Low Pressure Turbine Blades with an improved version, thereby reducing stress and enhancing overall engine safety. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with a compliance deadline set for 31 December 2005.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, mandate the implementation of specific Airworthiness Directives (AD) to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. This particular directive, AD/RRT-S/15, applies to Rolls Royce Spey 555-15, -15H, -15N, and -15P engines, which are utilised in various aircraft operating within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive was issued by a delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates the replacement of Stage 2 Low Pressure Turbine Blades in accordance with specified instructions to mitigate the risk of blade failures that could lead to unsafe conditions. Compliance with this AD must be achieved no later than 31 December 2005, and the directive became effective on 6 September 2001. It supersedes previous directives and references the UK Civil Aviation Authority AD 005-07-2000 for additional context. The directive's scope encompasses the replacement of blades to reduce stress-related failures, ensuring the continued airworthiness of affected engines.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, details the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/RRT-S/15. This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Rolls Royce Spey 555-15, -15H, -15N, and -15P engines and mandates specific actions to address an identified unsafe condition. The requirement under this AD is to replace the Stage 2 Low Pressure Turbine Blades in accordance with Rolls Royce Spey SB Sp72-1064 Revision 1 (Mod 6428). The AD references CAA (UK) AD 005-07-2000 and notes that compliance with the original issue of SB Sp 72-1064 satisfies the intent of this AD. Additionally, it mentions that this requirement was previously addressed in AD/RRT-S/12 Amdt 2, which has been cancelled by this directive. The AD imposes specific obligations on the parties and entities governed by these regulations. It mandates that the replacement of the Stage 2 Low Pressure Turbine Blades must be carried out in compliance with the instructions provided in Rolls Royce Spey SB Sp72-1064 Revision 1 (Mod 6428). This requirement is to ensure the safety of the aircraft by addressing the identified unsafe condition. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, and the specified action must be completed no later than 31 December 2005. The directive becomes effective from 6 September 2001, providing a clear timeline for the necessary actions. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Airworthiness Directive can result in significant consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may impose penalties for non-compliance with ADs. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, they could include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory actions. These consequences are intended to ensure adherence to safety standards and to protect the public from potential risks associated with non-compliance. The seriousness of the potential penalties underscores the importance of timely and proper compliance with the AD.