AD/TPE 331/22 - Fuel Control Bracket - Shimming and Increased Torque

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, addresses the safety and airworthiness of aircraft and their components through the issuance of Airworthiness Directives. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aim to ensure that all civil aviation activities and aircraft within Australia meet high safety standards. The policy objective behind these regulations is to protect the public and promote efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible civil aviation. One example of such regulation is the AD/TPE 331/22 concerning the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. This directive targets the fuel control bracket, requiring shimming and increased torque specifications to enhance safety and compliance. The directive applies to various TPE 331 engine models and mandates compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1977, ensuring that all affected engines adhere to the specified safety improvements.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 106, pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives which apply to various aircraft engines, including the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. This regulation applies to specific models of TPE 331 series engines such as the TPE-331-1-100B, -E, -F, -J, -L and -Z, as well as other listed variants, ensuring they meet specified airworthiness standards. The directive mandates compliance within 100 hours of time in service following 30 September 1977, with engines that complied with the preceding issue of this directive considered to satisfy the current requirements. The geographic reach of these regulations is nationwide, ensuring uniformity in airworthiness standards across all states and territories within Australia. This directive does not specify any exclusions or exemptions but is comprehensive in its application to the specified engine models, ensuring safety and compliance in civil aviation operations.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, includes a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives that pertains to the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series (AD/TPE 331/22). This directive focuses on the fuel control bracket, requiring shim adjustments and increased torque (sections 3/86). The directive applies to various engine models, including TPE-331-1-100B, -E, -F, -J, -L and -Z; TPE-331-1-151A, -G, and -K; TPE-331-2-201A; TPE-331-5-252M; TPE-331-6-252M; TPE-331-2UA-203D; TPE-331-3U-303G; TPE-331-2UW-303G; and TSE-331-3U-303N. The directive references AiResearch Service Bulletin TPE TSE 331-73-0036, Rev. 2; or AD/AIR-T/27A, and compliance is required within 100 hours of time in service after 30 September 1977. It is noted that engines that comply with the preceding issue of this directive also meet the requirements of this current issue. Entities governed by this directive must ensure that the fuel control bracket of the specified turbine engines is shimmed and that the torque is increased to the specified standards. This involves precise adjustments and verifications to maintain the airworthiness of the engines. Compliance must be achieved within the stipulated timeframe, which is 100 hours of service post the date of the directive's issuance. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in non-compliance, potentially leading to safety issues and legal consequences. Breaching the requirements set out in this airworthiness directive can lead to significant consequences. From a regulatory perspective, non-compliance can result in the grounding of aircraft equipped with the affected engines until the necessary adjustments are made. Additionally, the operator or owner of the aircraft may face penalties for not adhering to the mandated maintenance and safety protocols. While specific penalties are not detailed in the directive itself, general penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 can include fines and other enforcement actions. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and any associated safety risks. In summary, the AD/TPE 331/22 directive mandates specific adjustments to the fuel control bracket of certain AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines to ensure continued airworthiness. Compliance within 100 hours of service post the directive's issuance is mandatory. Failure to meet these requirements can result in significant regulatory and legal repercussions, including aircraft grounding and potential fines.