AD/TBM 700/23 Amdt 1 - Fuel Tank Air Vent Valves

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced Airworthiness Directive AD/TBM 700/23 in 2001 to address safety concerns associated with the fuel tank air vent valves in Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes. This legislation mandates specific actions to ensure that these aircraft meet airworthiness standards, particularly regarding potential valve obstructions that could lead to structural damage under certain conditions. In response to an identified error in the original directive's compliance requirements, CASA issued an amendment in 2002, clarifying the actions needed and setting specific timelines for compliance. The directive requires a blowing test and part number verification of the fuel tank air vent valves, with the objective of mitigating the risk of unsafe conditions that could compromise the aircraft's structural integrity and overall airworthiness.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 applies specifically to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes. The AD is applicable to aircraft as detailed by serial number in EADS Socata Service Bulletin (SB) Number SB 70-090 and where the aircraft records do not indicate the accomplishment of the instructions of SB 70-090, as well as to TBM 700 aircraft that have had a part number (P/N) Z00.N6007707265 air vent valve installed since February 1996 and where the vendor part number of the installed valve is unknown. The AD mandates that a blowing test of the fuel tank air vent valves, a check of the vendor part number of the valves, and replacement of the valves with a specified vendor part number must be carried out in accordance with EADS Socata Service Bulletin (SB) Number SB 70-090. The compliance timeframes for these actions vary, with the blowing test required within 5 hours of aircraft time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 5 hours, the valve part number check required at the next scheduled aircraft periodic inspection or prior to 31 October 2002, whichever occurs first, and the valve replacement required before further flight. Compliance with the valve part number check and valve replacement constitutes a terminating action for the requirements of this Directive. The AD was issued to correct a manufacturing issue in certain fuel tank air vent valves that may result in obstruction of the fuel tank vents and possible structural damage to the wing skin in the event of a tank-to-atmosphere pressure differential event occurring.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) focus on the actions required to address an unsafe condition in the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes. Specifically, the AD mandates three primary actions: (1) a blowing test of the fuel tank air vent valves (section 1(1)), (2) a check of the vendor part number of the installed valves (section 1(2)), and (3) the replacement of specific fuel tank air vent valves (section 1(3)). These actions must be carried out in accordance with EADS Socata Service Bulletin (SB) Number SB 70-090. The AD applies to TBM 700 aircraft that have not completed the instructions of SB 70-090 and those with an installed air vent valve of unknown vendor part number (section 2). The compliance timeline is set out in section 3, with the blowing test to be conducted within 5 hours of aircraft time in service and then at intervals not exceeding 5 hours; the valve part number check must occur by 31 October 2002 or at the next scheduled periodic inspection, and valve replacement must be completed before further flight. The AD imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Primarily, it requires aircraft owners and operators to conduct a blowing test and check the part number of the fuel tank air vent valves, as per the instructions in SB 70-090. This includes removing and replacing the valves if necessary. These actions are critical to ensuring the safety of the aircraft by preventing potential structural damage due to pressure differentials. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and must be logged in the aircraft records, as mandated by the AD. Failure to comply could result in the aircraft being grounded until the necessary actions are taken. Failure to comply with the AD may result in significant consequences, both civil and potentially criminal. Under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations, non-compliance with an AD can lead to enforcement actions, including fines and potential prosecution. The AD specifies that compliance with sections 2 and 3 constitutes a terminating action, meaning that failure to adhere to these requirements could result in the aircraft being deemed unsafe to fly. This could lead to enforcement actions by CASA, which may include substantial fines. In severe cases, where non-compliance is found to have directly contributed to an accident or incident, criminal charges could be pursued against the aircraft owner or operator. The exact penalties depend on the severity of the breach and the resultant impact on aviation safety.