AD/TPE 331/12 - Fuel Control Unit - New Lee Plug Installation

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, encompass a broad range of rules and directives aimed at maintaining safety and standards within Australia's civil aviation sector. Specifically, Part 39 - 106 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 addresses airworthiness directives, with a focus on ensuring that aircraft and their components meet the required safety standards. One such directive, AD/TPE 331/12, pertains to the installation of a new Lee plug in the fuel control unit of AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues associated with the fuel control unit in these engines and was designed to ensure compliance with safety standards prior to the fitment of a fuel control unit to an engine after 31 August 1972. The policy objective behind these regulations is to safeguard the integrity and safety of civil aviation operations within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under Part 39 - 106 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, pertain to the regulation of airworthiness directives for various aircraft components and systems, including the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. This legislation applies to all TPE-331 series engines, mandating compliance with specific safety standards to ensure the safe operation of these engines in civil aviation. The directive in question, AD/TPE 331/12, focuses on the installation of a new Lee Plug in the Fuel Control Unit (FCU) of the TPE-331 series engines and requires adherence to the specifications outlined in AiResearch Service Bulletin No. TPE-331-73-0003 or AD/AIR-T/13. This directive is mandatory for any engine undergoing FCU fitment after 31 August 1972, ensuring that all such engines meet the established safety criteria. The application of this directive is comprehensive, covering all operators and owners of TPE-331 series engines within the Australian jurisdiction, thereby extending the regulatory oversight to the Commonwealth level.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, include an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines TPE 331 Series, identified as AD/TPE 331/12 (Section 106). This AD mandates the installation of a new Lee Plug in the Fuel Control Unit (FCU) of all TPE-331 series engines. The directive applies to engines that have had an FCU fitted after 31 August 1972 (Section 3/86). Compliance with this directive is ensured through adherence to the instructions provided in AiResearch Service Bulletin No. TPE-331-73-0003 or AD/AIR-T/13 (Section 4). The primary obligation imposed by this directive is that all TPE-331 series engines must have a new Lee Plug installed in their FCU before any further fitment of an FCU to the engine (Section 3). This requirement ensures that the engines meet the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Operators and owners of these engines must ensure that the installation of the new Lee Plug is performed in accordance with the specifications provided by AiResearch or as outlined in AD/AIR-T/13. Failure to comply with this directive can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance with AD/TPE 331/12; however, non-compliance with airworthiness directives generally can lead to severe civil or criminal penalties. This may include fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, and potential criminal charges against the operator or responsible individual, depending on the severity and impact of the non-compliance on aviation safety. The specific penalties are outlined in other parts of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which may include substantial fines and imprisonment for serious breaches.