Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, specifically through Airworthiness Directive AD/TBM 700/30, address safety concerns regarding the on-board servicing power receptacles in Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to respond to a safety issue identified by the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile of France, this regulation mandates corrective actions to prevent damage caused by overloading the on-board service receptacles. The policy objective of this directive is to ensure that the electrical systems of the affected aircraft are not compromised, thereby maintaining airworthiness and preventing potential hazards during flight operations. This Airworthiness Directive, which became effective on 4 September 2003, requires operators of TBM 700B and 700C aeroplanes with specific serial numbers to disable the on-board servicing power receptacles initially by pulling and collaring the relevant circuit breaker and installing a "Do not operate" placard. Subsequently, the circuit breaker must be replaced, the "Do not operate" placard removed, and the existing placards on each servicing receptacle updated to reflect the correct power rating. This directive aims to mitigate risks associated with electrical system failures due to overloading.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as outlined in Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, mandate specific safety measures for certain types of aircraft within Australia. This particular Airworthiness Directive applies to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, specifically those with serial numbers 205 and 222 through 263 inclusive. The directive mandates actions to rectify unsafe conditions identified with the on-board servicing power receptacles of these aeroplanes. The directive requires the immediate disabling of certain electrical circuits and placarding as specified, followed by a replacement of the circuit breaker and re-placarding of the service receptacles. The directive’s compliance timeline is set, with the initial requirement taking effect from the directive’s publication date and the subsequent requirement to be completed by a specified future date. The directive is applicable within the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This regulation is intended to prevent damage to the aircraft's internal electrical wiring due to the connection of equipment with a power consumption exceeding the capacity of the on-board service receptacles.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) in question, numbered AD/TBM 700/30, pertains specifically to the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes, including models TBM 700B and 700C with serial numbers 205 and 222 through 263 inclusive. This directive mandates that certain actions be taken to address an unsafe condition identified in the on-board servicing power receptacles of these aircraft. As per the requirements outlined in section 1 of the AD, the ‘28VDC PLUGS’ circuit breaker located on the PL1 circuit breaker panel must be pulled and collared, and a ‘Do not operate’ placard must be installed. This action must be completed by the effective date of the AD, which is 4 September 2003. Following this, the ‘28VDC PLUGS’ circuit breaker must be replaced, the ‘Do not operate’ placard removed, and the existing ‘120 W MAXI’ placard on each on-board servicing receptacle must be replaced with a ‘28VDC-80W’ placard. This replacement must occur at the next scheduled maintenance inspection, but no later than 15 October 2003. The AD imposes clear obligations on the parties it governs, primarily those responsible for the maintenance and operation of the specified TBM 700 Series aeroplanes. These parties must ensure that the required actions are completed in a timely and compliant manner. Specifically, they must follow the instructions for disabling the on-board service receptacles, replacing the circuit breaker, and updating the placards as specified. Compliance with these requirements is essential to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft and to prevent potential damage to the aircraft’s internal electrical wiring, as identified by the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile of France. Failure to adhere to the AD could result in non-compliance with aviation safety regulations and potential safety risks. In the event of non-compliance with this Airworthiness Directive, there may be significant consequences. While the AD itself does not explicitly outline specific penalties or offences, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions may include fines, legal proceedings, or other regulatory measures. Additionally, failure to comply with airworthiness requirements can result in the grounding of the aircraft, which could have severe operational and financial implications for the operators. It is therefore imperative that the relevant parties ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid these potential consequences.