AD/TB20/24 - Fuel Tank Outlet Filter

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (Cth), specifically PART 39 - 105, was enacted to address safety issues in civil aviation by establishing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and providing a framework for airworthiness directives. This legislation is integral in ensuring that aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to protect passengers and crew. The regulations were introduced to fill the gap in the safety oversight of civil aviation in Australia and are overseen by the Australian Parliament. The policy objective behind these regulations is to ensure the highest safety standards in civil aviation through detailed and enforceable directives. One particular airworthiness directive, AD/TB20/24, pertains to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) series aeroplanes, specifically addressing the fuel tank outlet filter. This directive applies to models TB20 and TB21 with serial numbers ranging from 1038 to 1308, with certain exceptions for previously modified aircraft. The requirement is to comply with the technical specifications outlined in DGAC AD 91-246(A). This directive aims to correct issues related to sump volume and unusable fuel quantity. Compliance is mandated during the next periodic inspection following 25 January 1992 or by 30 June 1992, whichever comes first.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to the issuance of airworthiness directives by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This particular legislative instrument, AD/TB20/24, applies to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1038 to 1308, excluding certain aircraft that have already been modified. The regulation is intended to ensure compliance with technical requirements set forth by DGAC AD 91-246(A), focusing on rectifying sump volume and unusable fuel quantity. Compliance is mandatory and must be achieved during the next periodic inspection following 25 January 1992 or by 30 June 1992, whichever comes first. This directive serves to enhance the safety and operational standards of the specified aircraft within the Australian aviation sector.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, contains a schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft types, including Aerospatiale (Socata) TB20 (Trinidad) Series Aeroplanes, as detailed in AD/TB20/24. This directive (AD/TB20/24) pertains to the fuel tank outlet filter and applies to Model TB20 and TB21 aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1038 to 1308, with some exceptions for aircraft that have already been modified (section 2). The directive mandates compliance with the technical requirement outlined in DGAC AD 91-246(A) and references Socata TB aeroplanes SB Nr 61 for further guidance. The obligations under this directive are clear: affected aircraft must be inspected and modified in accordance with the specified technical requirements. Compliance is required either during the next periodic inspection following 25 January 1992 or by 30 June 1992, whichever comes first (section 3). This means that operators of the specified aircraft must ensure that the fuel tank outlet filter is addressed promptly to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in AD/TB20/24 can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has the authority to take enforcement action against non-compliance. The penalties for breaching these regulations can include fines and other sanctions as stipulated in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. While the specific penalties are not detailed in this particular directive, they can be substantial, reflecting the importance of maintaining aircraft airworthiness for safety reasons.