AD/TPE 331/25 - Third Stage Turbine Wheel P/N 3101516/1 - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need for consistent and stringent safety standards within the aviation sector. One specific piece of legislation within this regulatory framework is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/TPE 331/25, which pertains to the replacement of the third stage turbine wheel on AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines – TPE 331 Series. This directive was introduced to address potential safety issues associated with the specific turbine wheel model P/N 3101516/1, mandating its replacement with a cast third stage turbine wheel P/N 3102655/1 to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft. The policy objective is to mitigate risks and ensure compliance within the stipulated timeframe, in this case, within 100 hours of time in service after 11 June 1979.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, governs the airworthiness directives that are applicable to various aircraft components and systems. This particular legislative instrument pertains to AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines of the TPE 331 Series, focusing on the replacement of the third stage turbine wheel. The requirement under the regulation mandates that the forged third stage turbine wheel P/N 3101516/1 be removed and replaced with a cast third stage turbine wheel P/N 3102655/1 for TPE-331-10-501G models. Compliance with this directive is necessary within 100 hours of time in service after the effective date of 11 June 1979. The regulation applies to the specific turbine engine models mentioned and ensures that they meet the specified airworthiness standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The regulation does not explicitly extend its application through subordinate instruments, but compliance and enforcement are overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority within the jurisdictional scope of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39, provide detailed directives regarding airworthiness and maintenance requirements for certain aircraft engines. Section 106 pertains to Airworthiness Directives, and in this case, AD/TPE 331/25 addresses the replacement of a specific component in the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines, specifically the TPE 331 Series. The directive mandates the replacement of the forged third stage turbine wheel, P/No. 3101516/1, with a cast third stage turbine wheel, P/No. 3102655/1 (section 106). The requirement applies to TPE-331-10-501G models equipped with the mentioned turbine wheel (section 106(2)). Compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 11 June 1979 (section 106(3)). Under this legislation, the obligations imposed on the parties or entities governed by the Civil Aviation Regulations are clear and specific. Operators of aircraft equipped with the TPE-331-10-501G models must ensure that the required replacement of the turbine wheel is carried out within the specified timeframe. This includes conducting the necessary maintenance checks, sourcing the correct replacement part, and ensuring that the replacement is carried out by qualified personnel. The directive also requires that operators maintain detailed records of the compliance process, including documentation of the removal of the old turbine wheel and the installation of the new one (section 106(4)). In terms of penalties and consequences for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Regulations provide for both civil and criminal sanctions. Under section 139 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988, failure to comply with an airworthiness directive can result in significant civil penalties. For individual offenders, the maximum penalty can include fines of up to $22,200 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both (section 139(1)). For corporate offenders, the fines can be substantially higher, reaching up to $111,000 (section 139(2)). Additionally, non-compliance can lead to the grounding of the affected aircraft until the necessary maintenance is performed, which can have significant operational and financial repercussions for the operator. Furthermore, continued non-compliance can result in the suspension or revocation of the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness, thereby rendering the aircraft illegal to operate (section 106(5)).