Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, was enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety standards and directives for aviation components, particularly focusing on the maintenance and modification of aircraft engines to prevent malfunctions and enhance flight safety. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the enacting body responsible for implementing and enforcing these regulations. The overarching policy objective is to maintain and improve the safety standards of civil aviation operations in Australia by mandating specific maintenance and modification procedures for critical aircraft components, such as the AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - T53 Series. This particular legislative instrument, F2006B07254, outlines directives for the inspection and modification of the overspeed pickup gear and shaft, ensuring that all applicable models adhere to specified safety protocols to mitigate risks associated with engine overspeed.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106 concerning Airworthiness Directives for the AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - T53 Series, applies to all model T5313A, T5313A S/No. Suffix "A", and T5313B engines. The directive mandates inspection and modification of the overspeed pickup gear and shaft to ensure compliance with safety standards. The applicability of this directive is nationwide, encompassing all commercial and private aviation entities operating within Australia. The regulation is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and extends to any aircraft utilising the specified engine models. Compliance involves inspecting the engines in accordance with Lycoming's Field Service Bulletin No. 0022, Rev. 1, within 25 hours of service after 25 February 1971, and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of service until the engine is modified. Additionally, the engines must be modified within 200 hours of service after 30 June 1971, following the instructions in Part 11 of FSB No. 0022, Rev. 1, or Overhaul Modification Bulletin No. 0036, Rev. 1. The directive is a direct mandate from CASA and any deviation may result in non-compliance with safety regulations, potentially leading to operational restrictions or penalties.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, PART 39 - 106, specifically addressing AlliedSignal (Lycoming) Turbine Engines - T53 Series, require the inspection and modification of overspeed pickup gear and shaft for certain models of the T53 turbine engine. The primary directive, AD/T53/6, applies to all model T5313A, T5313A S/No. Suffix "A", and T5313B engines. The compliance instructions are derived from Lycoming Field Service Bulletin No. 0022, Revision 1; Lycoming Overhaul Modification Bulletin No. 0036, Revision 1; or AD/LYC-T/6A.1/86. Entities governed by these regulations must ensure that inspections are conducted in accordance with Lycoming Field Service Bulletin No. 0022, Revision 1, Part 1, within 25 hours of time in service after 25 February 1971. These inspections must continue at intervals not exceeding 25 hours of time in service until the engine is modified. Moreover, modifications must be carried out within 200 hours of time in service after 30 June 1971, in accordance with either Part 11 of FSB No. 0022, Revision 1, or Overhaul Modification Bulletin No. 0036, Revision 1. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be strictly adhered to maintain the airworthiness of the affected engines. Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in these regulations could result in severe consequences. The Act does not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, but it is reasonable to infer that any breach of airworthiness directives could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, suspension of operations, or other regulatory penalties. The specific penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and the regulatory framework governing aviation safety at the time of the offence. It is crucial for all entities subject to these regulations to ensure full compliance to avoid any potential legal or operational repercussions.