COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 106 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series
AD/TPE 331/35 Second Stage Stator Assembly 10/87
TX
Applicability: TPE 331-25, -43, -47, -55 and -61 series engines as listed in the Requirement Document.
Requirement: Radiographically inspect the second stage stator assembly, to determine if air jets have been assembled correctly, in accordance with GTEC SB TPE 331-A72-0560 dated 1 July 1987.
Compliance: Unless already accomplished, at 500 hours time since overhaul or within 200 hours of operation after 3 August 1987 whichever is the later.
Background: This Directive is issued to prevent second stage rotor assembly failure resulting from incorrectly assembled air jets in the second stage stator.
Attention of operators of applicable engines is drawn to GTEC SB TPE 331-A72- 0522-AD/TPE 331/33 Amdt 3 which requires a repetitive radiographic isotope inspection of the second stage stator to determine the clearance between the second stage seal plate assembly and the second stage rotor.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. A significant part of these regulations is the establishment of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the issuing of Airworthiness Directives to mitigate specific safety risks. One such directive, AD/TPE 331/35, targets the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines of the TPE 331 series, focusing on the second stage stator assembly. This directive was introduced to address the problem of second stage rotor assembly failures that could arise from incorrectly assembled air jets in the second stage stator, thereby ensuring the reliability and safety of these engines. The policy objective behind this directive is to prevent such failures by mandating radiographic inspections to verify the correct assembly of the air jets, thus enhancing the overall safety of the aviation operations involving these engines.
Enacted by the Parliament, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 empower CASA to issue Airworthiness Directives that are crucial in maintaining the highest safety standards in the Australian aviation sector. Directive AD/TPE 331/35 specifically targets TPE 331-25, -43, -47, -55, and -61 series engines, requiring operators to conduct radiographic inspections of the second stage stator assembly to ensure air jets are correctly assembled. This proactive measure aims to prevent failures related to the second stage stator, thereby maintaining the integrity and safety of the engines in operation. The directive underscores the importance of regular and rigorous inspections to preempt potential failures, ensuring that the aviation safety standards set forth by CASA are met and upheld.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, addresses the safety and airworthiness of aircraft, with the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series being subject to particular directives. AD/TPE 331/35 mandates that the second stage stator assembly of TPE 331-25, -43, -47, -55, and -61 series engines must undergo radiographic inspection to ensure the air jets are correctly assembled. This directive applies to all relevant engines that have accumulated 500 hours of time since overhaul or 200 hours of operation after 3 August 1987, whichever is later. The primary aim of this directive is to prevent second stage rotor assembly failures due to incorrect air jet assembly in the second stage stator. This regulation extends to operators of the specified engines, ensuring adherence to the prescribed inspection protocols to maintain safety standards. The directive is part of a broader framework overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, reinforcing the commitment to ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft operating within the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of this legislative instrument (AD/TPE 331/35) focus on ensuring the airworthiness of AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines, specifically the TPE 331 Series. The main requirement is that the second stage stator assembly of these engines must be radiographically inspected (section 10/87TX) to ensure that the air jets are assembled correctly. This inspection must be conducted in accordance with GTEC SB TPE 331-A72-0560 dated 1 July 1987. The applicability of this directive extends to TPE 331-25, -43, -47, -55, and -61 series engines as listed in the Requirement Document.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the operators of these engines. They must ensure that the radiographic inspection of the second stage stator assembly is carried out either at 500 hours of time since overhaul or within 200 hours of operation after 3 August 1987, whichever is later. This requirement is critical to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the engines, as the directive is intended to prevent second stage rotor assembly failure resulting from incorrectly assembled air jets.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this directive could result in serious safety issues, including potential engine failure. While the legislative instrument does not explicitly state the penalties or consequences for non-compliance, it is implied that failure to adhere to these airworthiness directives could lead to severe civil or criminal repercussions. The exact penalties would likely depend on the specific circumstances and the potential impact on aviation safety. However, it is clear that non-compliance could result in significant legal consequences for the operators of these engines.