AD/TBM 700/1 - Battery Overheating Indication

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, was enacted to ensure the safe operation of civil aircraft in Australian airspace. This legislative instrument, AD/TBM 700/1, was introduced to address a critical safety concern identified in the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes, namely a potential overheating issue with the battery system. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) established this Airworthiness Directive to mandate corrective actions to prevent the identified wiring discrepancy in the "Battery Overheat" indication circuitry. The policy objective of this directive is to maintain and enhance the safety standards in civil aviation, ensuring that all aircraft within the specified category are maintained to a standard that mitigates the risk of battery overheating. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours time-in-service from 29 April 1993, as referenced in the TBM 700 Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 70-026-24 dated February 1993 and further corroborated by DGAC AD 93-019(B) dated 3 March 1993.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 – 105, governs the safety standards and operational protocols for aircraft within Australia, including specific airworthiness directives such as AD/TBM 700/1. This directive applies to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes that are identified in the TBM 700 Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 70-026-24 dated February 1993. The regulation mandates that these aircraft must adhere to the actions specified in the aforementioned service bulletin to rectify a wiring discrepancy in the "Battery Overheat" indication circuitry. The directive requires compliance within 100 hours of time-in-service from 29 April 1993, ensuring that the safety and operational integrity of the affected aircraft are maintained. The scope of this legislation extends nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia, enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and any deviations from these requirements could lead to significant safety risks and regulatory non-compliance.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly AD/TBM 700/1, focus on ensuring the airworthiness of Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes by addressing a specific issue related to battery overheating indications (sections 1 to 5). Section 5 requires that any TBM 700 series aeroplanes identified in TBM 700 Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 70-026-24 dated February 1993 must take corrective action as outlined in that bulletin. This mandate ensures that the wiring discrepancy in the “Battery Overheat” indication circuitry is rectified. This directive references DGAC AD 93-019(B) dated 3 March 1993, further validating the requirements. The Civil Aviation Regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by this directive. Aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance personnel must ensure that the corrective actions specified in the bulletin are carried out within 100 hours of the aeroplane's time-in-service from 29 April 1993. This requirement is critical to maintaining the safety and reliability of the aircraft, as it directly addresses a known issue that could potentially lead to hazardous situations. Proper documentation and compliance with the service bulletin are mandatory to ensure that the aircraft continues to meet airworthiness standards. Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and AD/TBM 700/1 could result in severe consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or other administrative measures. These consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the mandated corrective actions to avoid legal repercussions and ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.