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 331/48 Fuel Control Unit Drive Shaft Spline Wear 5/99
Requirement: CANCELLED.
Note: Operators can elect to remove or retain, reference in the Emergency Procedures Section of the approved flight manual (AFM) to a procedure to be carried out in the event of an uncommanded engine torque and turbine temperature increase. FAA Airworthiness Directive 94-26-07 refers.
Background: This directive has been cancelled in response to advice that the drive shafts of concern have been removed from service and the inspection requirements of this directive are now reflected in the applicable engine maintenance manual inspection schedule.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, includes a schedule of airworthiness directives, which are regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring the safety and airworthiness of aircraft. One such directive, AD/TPE 331/48, concerning the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series, focused on addressing fuel control unit drive shaft spline wear. However, this directive has been cancelled as of May 1999 due to the removal of the drive shafts in question from service. This cancellation means that the previously mandated inspections are now covered by the engine maintenance manual inspection schedule. The policy objective behind these regulations is to ensure that all airworthiness directives are current and relevant, thereby maintaining the highest safety standards for aviation operations in Australia. The enactment and subsequent amendment of these regulations are the responsibility of the Australian Parliament, reflecting the legislative commitment to aviation safety.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under PART 39 - 106 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, applies specifically to AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines of the TPE 331 Series, particularly addressing concerns regarding the Fuel Control Unit Drive Shaft spline wear, as outlined in AD/TPE 331/48. This legislation impacts all operators who utilise these particular turbine engines within Australia, ensuring adherence to safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The directive, which has been cancelled, previously required operators to implement specific procedures in the event of an uncommanded engine torque and turbine temperature increase. Now, operators have the discretion to either remove or retain a reference in the Emergency Procedures Section of the approved flight manual (AFM) to a procedure addressing such events, with guidance provided by the FAA Airworthiness Directive 94-26-07. The cancellation of this directive reflects the removal of the problematic drive shafts from service, with the necessary inspection requirements now incorporated into the relevant engine maintenance manual inspection schedules.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 106, detail the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) schedule of airworthiness directives for various aircraft components and systems. In this case, the regulation AD/TPE 331/48 addresses the fuel control unit drive shaft spline wear in the AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines - TPE 331 Series. This directive has been cancelled, as mentioned in section 5/99, with the note that operators can choose to either remove or retain the reference in the Emergency Procedures Section of the approved flight manual (AFM) to a procedure to be executed in the event of an uncommanded engine torque and turbine temperature increase. This procedure is further referenced in the FAA Airworthiness Directive 94-26-07.
The obligations imposed by the cancelled AD/TPE 331/48 are primarily concerned with the maintenance and operation of the TPE 331 Series engines. Operators are now responsible for ensuring that the inspection requirements previously outlined in the cancelled directive are now incorporated into the applicable engine maintenance manual inspection schedule. This means that operators must ensure their maintenance procedures comply with the updated engine maintenance manuals, which now include the necessary inspections related to the fuel control unit drive shaft spline wear. Furthermore, if operators choose to retain the reference to the uncommanded engine torque and turbine temperature increase procedure in their AFM, they must ensure that this procedure is clearly documented and that all flight crew are adequately trained to follow it in the event of such an occurrence.
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not specify particular offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences directly related to the non-compliance with the cancelled AD/TPE 331/48. However, failing to comply with CASA's airworthiness directives and the requirements of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 in general can lead to severe repercussions. Non-compliance can result in the grounding of the aircraft, fines, and potential criminal charges if the non-compliance leads to an accident or incident. The maximum penalties for non-compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 can include substantial fines for corporations, as well as imprisonment for individuals, depending on the severity of the breach and the impact on aviation safety. CASA has the authority to take enforcement actions against operators who do not adhere to the airworthiness directives and other regulatory requirements.