AD/TPE 331/41 Amdt 2 - Third Stage Turbine Stators

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Australian Parliament, serve to regulate civil aviation within Australia, ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. Among its various parts, Part 39, specifically addressing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, plays a critical role in maintaining aircraft safety. This legislative framework aims to address potential safety issues by issuing directives that mandate regular inspections and maintenance of specific aircraft components. One such directive is AD/TPE 331/41 Amendment 2, which focuses on the inspection and re-identification of third stage turbine stator assemblies in AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) TPE 331 Series engines. This amendment responds to identified safety concerns and seeks to mitigate risks associated with turbine stator assemblies, thereby contributing to overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 106, which pertains to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, apply to specific model engines within the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. These regulations mandate inspections and re-identification of certain third stage turbine stator assemblies for specific TPE331 engines equipped with particular part numbers. The regulation is applicable to both civilian and commercial aviation entities that operate these engines, thereby ensuring safety standards are consistently upheld within the Commonwealth of Australia. The directive specifies that the requirements must be met at the next access to the affected part or within 200 cycles, whichever comes first, and it references related Federal Aviation Administration directives and other Civil Aviation Safety Authority orders for additional context and requirements. Notably, while the directive itself sets out specific obligations, the scope and detailed implementation may be further refined through subordinate instruments or additional orders issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, contains detailed directives for ensuring the airworthiness of various aircraft components, including the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. Section AD/TPE 331/41 Amendment 2 outlines the requirements for the inspection, re-identification, and maintenance of third stage turbine stator assemblies P/N 868379-1 and 868379-3. This applies to TPE331-1, -2, -2UA, -3U, -3UW, -5, -5A, -5AB, -5B, -6, -6A model engines fitted with the specified third stage turbine stator assemblies. Operators and maintainers must inspect these components in accordance with AlliedSignal Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) TPE331-A72-559 and re-identify P/N 868379-1 third stage stator assemblies as per AlliedSignal ASB TPE/TSE331-A72-0384. The regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. Operators and maintainers must ensure that the inspections and re-identifications are carried out properly and documented as per the specified bulletins. These directives apply unless the tasks have already been completed in line with a previous issue of this directive, in which case they must be carried out at the next access to the affected part or within 200 cycles, whichever comes first. Additionally, it is important to note that the cycle count of a third stage turbine stator assembly, if unknown, is established by multiplying the total component hours in service since new by 1.5. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 may result in serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument itself, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can typically lead to civil and criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Civil penalties can include substantial fines, while criminal penalties may involve imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and its impact on aviation safety. Operators and maintainers must adhere to these regulations to avoid such penalties and ensure the safe operation of aircraft.