AD/TPE 331/21 - Fuel Pump Spline Wear Inspection and/or Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Parliament, establish a comprehensive framework for the safety of civil aviation operations within the country. Specifically, Part 39, which includes the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, aims to ensure that aircraft and their components meet safety standards to prevent accidents and incidents. The Civil Aviation (AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series) Airworthiness Directive (AD/TPE 331/21) addresses the problem of fuel pump spline wear in specific TPE 331 series engines, requiring inspections and replacements to maintain airworthiness. This directive is designed to enhance aviation safety by ensuring the reliability and integrity of the fuel pump spline, thereby reducing the risk of engine failure during flight. The policy objective is to protect public safety and maintain the highest standards of airworthiness in Australian civil aviation.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, apply to the Airworthiness Directives concerning the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines, TPE 331 Series, with a focus on the AD/TPE 331/21 directive regarding fuel pump spline wear inspection and/or replacement. This legislation applies to TPE 331-3U-303G, -3UW-303G, and -3U-304G engines, ensuring that these engines meet specific safety standards and operational requirements set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The directive is designed to ensure the continued airworthiness of these engines by mandating inspections and necessary replacements to mitigate potential risks associated with fuel pump spline wear. The directive extends its jurisdiction to the Commonwealth of Australia, impacting operators and maintenance providers of these engines within the country's aviation sector. Compliance with the requirements outlined in the Garrett Service Bulletin No. TPE 331-73-0033, Rev. 5, or AD/AIR-T/26 Amdt 2, is mandatory, ensuring the safety and reliability of the engines in question.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under PART 39 - 106 (section 106.10), outline the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives for specific aircraft components, including the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series (section 106.10(1)). The regulation mandates a specific AD/TPE 331/21 that requires a fuel pump spline wear inspection and/or replacement for the TPE 331-3U-303G, -3UW-303G, and -3U-304G engine variants (section 106.10(2)). This directive is governed by Garrett Service Bulletin No. TPE 331-73-0033, Rev. 5, or AD/AIR-T/26 Amendment 2 (section 106.10(3)). Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be conducted in accordance with the specified requirement documents (section 106.10(4)). The directive applies to all aircraft operators and maintenance personnel responsible for the maintenance of the specified engine models (section 106.10(5)). The purpose of this directive is to address issues related to fuel pump spline wear, which can affect engine performance and safety, by specifying an inspection interval of 3000 to 3200 hours (section 106.10(6)). Additionally, the directive extends the inspection interval for fuel pump spline wear to include the 331-3U-304G engine model (section 106.10(7)). Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can be considered an offence (section 43). This can lead to enforcement actions by CASA, including fines, suspension, or revocation of airworthiness certificates (section 44). For individuals, the maximum penalty for an offence under these regulations can be a fine of up to $21,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both (section 45). For corporations, the maximum penalty can be significantly higher, up to $1,050,000 (section 46). Additionally, CASA may take civil enforcement action, including the imposition of administrative penalties, to ensure compliance with the airworthiness directives (section 47).