AD/TBM 700/6 - Ground Power Receptacle Shunt

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses a critical safety concern related to Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series aeroplanes. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, this legislation was introduced to ensure that particular models of these aircraft are maintained to high safety standards. The primary objective of this directive, AD/TBM 700/6, is to prevent corrosion on the ground power receptacle shunt attaching screws, which is achieved through mandatory compliance with service bulletin SB 70-038-24 and its associated erratum. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 8 December 1994, reflecting the urgency and importance of addressing this safety issue. The regulations are designed to mitigate risks associated with the mentioned corrosion, ensuring the continued airworthiness of the affected aircraft models.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, governs the maintenance and safety standards for the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 series aeroplanes. This legislation applies to all TBM 700 series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 22 and 24 to 91 inclusive. The directive mandates compliance with Socata TBM 700 Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-038-24 dated February 1994 and its associated erratum dated June 1994. The requirement is to ensure that the ground power receptacle shunt attaching screws are checked and, if necessary, replaced to prevent corrosion within 100 hours of time in service after 8 December 1994. This directive is an integral part of ensuring the airworthiness of these specific aircraft models, contributing to the overarching goal of maintaining high safety standards in civil aviation. This legislative instrument extends its applicability nationwide within the Commonwealth of Australia, regulating the maintenance and operational standards of the specified aircraft models. Any deviation from the outlined requirements may lead to non-compliance with civil aviation safety standards, potentially impacting the operational certification of the aircraft. The scope of this legislation is limited to the prescribed serial numbers of the TBM 700 series aeroplanes, and there are no stated exclusions or exemptions provided within the text. However, further details and extensions to the application of this directive may be found in subordinate instruments or additional CASA publications.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically the Airworthiness Directive AD/TBM 700/6 concerning the Aerospatiale (Socata) TBM 700 Series Aeroplanes, focus on ensuring the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft by addressing a specific issue with the ground power receptacle shunt. According to section 39-105, the directive applies to model TBM 700 series airplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 22 and 24 to 91 inclusive (section 13/94). The directive mandates that unless the action specified in Socata TBM 700 Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-038-24 dated February 1994 and its associated Erratum dated June 1994 has already been performed, compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 8 December 1994 (section 13/94). This action is critical to prevent corrosion on the ground power receptacle shunt attaching screws, which is highlighted in the background information as a significant safety concern (section 13/94). The obligations and requirements imposed by this directive are clear and specific. Aircraft owners and operators must ensure that the prescribed service bulletin actions are carried out in a timely manner. This includes verifying that the service bulletin SB 70-038-24 and its erratum have been correctly implemented, or if not, that the required modifications are made within the specified timeframe of 100 hours after 8 December 1994. The directive references DGAC AD 94-11-2(B) dated 11 May 1994, which suggests that international regulatory bodies have also identified and addressed this issue, underscoring the importance of the directive's requirements (section 13/94). It is imperative that these actions are documented and that the aircraft is not operated until the directive has been fully complied with. Breach of the requirements stipulated in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can lead to significant consequences. The Act imposes strict penalties for non-compliance with airworthiness directives. Failure to adhere to the directive's stipulations may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which can prevent its operation. Furthermore, regulatory authorities may impose administrative penalties, which can include fines and other enforcement actions. The severity of these penalties is intended to ensure that aircraft safety is not compromised, thereby protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the aviation safety framework. It is important for all stakeholders to understand that non-compliance is not only a breach of regulatory requirements but also poses serious risks to flight safety.