AD/TFE 731/13 - Turbine Interstage Transition Duct Re-Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, Section 106, include a legislative instrument (F2006B07396) addressing the safety of AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines, specifically the TFE731 series. This legislative instrument was enacted to address issues identified with the turbine interstage transition ducts of these engines, which were previously inspected under Garrett SB TFE731-72-3159. The problem arose due to an error in the inspection procedure, prompting the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to issue a directive for re-inspection to ensure safety and compliance with FAA AD 86-03-01 Amdt 39-5212. The policy objective is to maintain and enhance aviation safety by ensuring that any identified defects in critical components of aircraft engines are rectified promptly. This directive applies to TPE 731-2, -3, -3A, -3AR, -3B, -3BR, and -3R engines, requiring re-inspection at the next major periodic inspection or the next access of the affected part, whichever occurs first after 30 June 1986. The directive references specific Garrett service bulletins and FAA amendments, emphasising the need for adherence to detailed safety protocols to prevent any potential risks associated with the identified errors in previous inspections.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, apply to all entities and individuals involved in the operation and maintenance of aircraft equipped with AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines of the TFE731 Series, which includes TPE 731-2, -3, -3A, -3AR, -3B, -3BR, and -3R engines. The regulation mandates a re-inspection of the turbine interstage transition ducts to ensure compliance with FAA AD 86-03-01 Amdt 39-5212. This requirement is applicable nationally, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority overseeing its implementation. The directive applies to all such engines regardless of where they are operated within Australia, ensuring a uniform standard of safety and maintenance across the Commonwealth. The re-inspection must be carried out at the next major periodic inspection or the next access of the affected part, whichever comes first after 30 June 1986. This directive does not exclude any specific entity or class of aircraft from its scope, thus all operators must comply to maintain airworthiness.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106, mandate the re-inspection of certain turbine interstage transition ducts for AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TFE731 Series through AD/TFE731/13 (sections 1-5). This requirement applies to TPE 731-2, -3, -3A, -3AR, -3B, -3BR, and -3R engines (section 6). The re-inspection must be conducted in accordance with FAA AD 86-03-01 Amdt 39-5212 (section 7). Compliance is to be achieved at the next major periodic inspection or at the next access of the affected part, whichever occurs first after 30 June 1986 (section 8). This legislation imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Engine operators must ensure that the re-inspection of the specified ducts is carried out as per the FAA AD 86-03-01 Amdt 39-5212 directive (section 7). The reference documents, including Garrett SB TFE 731-72-3309 R1 and Garrett SB TFE 731-72-3159 R5, provide detailed guidance on the inspection procedure and the specific ducts that require re-inspection (section 9). The re-inspection must be performed at the earliest opportunity following the specified date, ensuring that the identified ducts are thoroughly examined and any defects are rectified. Failure to comply with the re-inspection directive can result in significant consequences. The legislation does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to serious safety issues. This could potentially result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, operational restrictions, or other regulatory measures (sections 10-12). Ensuring compliance is critical to maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft, as mandated by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998.