AD/TPE 331/19 - Turbine Bearing Support Replacement and Pitch Control Sleeve Pin - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, establish comprehensive safety standards for civil aviation in Australia. Among these regulations, Part 39 - 106 specifically addresses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives. This legislative instrument, F2006B07427, was introduced to address safety concerns associated with AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines, specifically the TPE 331 Series. The policy objective is to ensure that these engines meet necessary safety standards through specific maintenance and inspection requirements. These directives mandate the replacement of turbine bearing supports and inspection of pitch control sleeve pins to enhance engine reliability and safety, thereby protecting both passengers and crew.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, address the safety of civil aviation operations in Australia by issuing directives that ensure the airworthiness of aircraft and their components. Under this regulatory framework, the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines – TPE 331 Series AD/TPE 331/19 pertains to the turbine bearing support replacement and pitch control sleeve pin inspection for certain TPE-331 engines, including those listed by their serial numbers and any additional engines that have incorporated SB TPE-331-72-0055. The regulation applies to engines such as the TPE-331-3U-303G, -3UW-303G, -5-251C, -5-251K, and -6-251M. The compliance deadlines vary based on the service hours of the engines, with specific timelines set for engines with less than 100 hours and more than 100 hours of time in service, as well as for spare engines that are to be installed in aircraft after 31 January 1975. This regulation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, and its enforcement ensures that all entities operating under the Civil Aviation Regulations comply with the specified airworthiness directives.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39, section 106, focus on the authority and procedures for issuing airworthiness directives for specific turbine engines. The regulation in question pertains to the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series, and specifically addresses AD/TPE 331/19, which mandates the replacement of turbine bearing support and the inspection of the pitch control sleeve pin (section 3/86). The directive applies to certain model numbers of the TPE-331 engine series, including TPE-331-3U-303G, -3UW-303G, -5-251C, -5-251K, and -6-251M, identified by their serial numbers, as well as any additional engines that have implemented Service Bulletin TPE-331-72-0055 (section 1). The obligations imposed by this directive are clear and specific. For engines that have accumulated less than 100 hours of time in service, compliance must be achieved within 25 hours of time in service following 31 January 1975 (section 1). Engines with more than 100 hours of time in service are required to comply within 300 hours of time in service following the same date (section 2). Additionally, any spare engines must be compliant before they are installed in an aircraft after 31 January 1975 (section 3). Compliance can be demonstrated by following the instructions detailed in AiResearch Service Bulletin TPE-331-72-0087, Revision 2, Federal Aviation Administration AD No. 74-24-05, or AD/AIR-T/24A (section 1). Failure to comply with these directives can result in serious consequences. The Civil Aviation Regulations enforce strict adherence to airworthiness standards to ensure the safety of air travel. Non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which includes potential criminal charges for individuals and civil penalties for corporations. The maximum penalties for such offences can include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals, reflecting the seriousness with which these regulations are treated. For corporations, the penalties can be equally severe, with fines that may significantly impact the financial stability of the entity. These measures underscore the importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation.