AD/TPE 331/9 - Oil Sample and Pressure Oil Filter - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address the need for stringent safety standards in civil aviation, particularly focusing on the airworthiness of aircraft engines. This legislation is crucial in ensuring that all aircraft engines meet specific safety requirements to prevent accidents and maintain operational safety. One particular area of focus is the maintenance and inspection of turbine engines, as highlighted in Part 39 - 106, which includes Airworthiness Directives for specific engine models. The policy objective is to maintain the highest safety standards by ensuring that engine components, such as oil samples and pressure oil filters, are regularly inspected and meet the necessary safety criteria. This is achieved through detailed directives that specify the intervals and procedures for inspections, ensuring that any potential issues are identified and rectified promptly.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, mandate that certain AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) Turbine Engines of the TPE 331 Series must adhere to specific airworthiness directives. These directives pertain to the inspection of oil samples and pressure oil filters for specified engine models, such as the TPE-331-1-100F, 101B, 101E, and others. The directive applies to owners and operators of these engines who must comply with AiResearch Service Bulletin No. 628 Rev. 8, with certain exceptions. Oil samples and oil filter elements must be sent to Mobil Oil Laboratories in Yarraville, Victoria, for examination, and written confirmation of satisfactory results must be obtained before the engine exceeds 50 hours of time in service following the removal of the filter and oil sampling. This directive must be complied with within 50 hours of time in service after 31 January 1977 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time in service. The scope of this directive is national and applies to all relevant aircraft engines operated within Australia, ensuring safety standards are met across the industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 106, establish specific requirements for the maintenance and safety of AlliedSignal (Garrett/AiResearch) TPE 331 Series Turbine Engines (section 1). The Airworthiness Directive AD/TPE 331/9 mandates that certain models of the TPE 331 Series engines must comply with AiResearch Service Bulletin No. 628 Rev. 8. This includes provisions for the inspection of oil samples and pressure oil filters (section 2). Owners or operators of these engines must ensure that any oil samples and oil filter elements collected for laboratory examination are sent to Mobil Oil Laboratories in Yarraville, Victoria (section 3). The Act requires that before an engine is operated for more than 50 hours after the removal of the oil filter and oil sampling, the owner or operator must receive written confirmation of satisfactory results from Mobil Oil Laboratories (section 2). This is intended to ensure that any potential issues with the engine's oil system are identified and addressed promptly, thereby maintaining the engine's airworthiness. Compliance with these requirements must be achieved within 50 hours of time in service following 31 January 1977 and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 50 hours (section 4). Failure to comply with these regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. The severity of these consequences depends on the nature and extent of the breach. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose administrative penalties, which can include fines, or take enforcement actions against the operator or owner. In cases where the breach results in significant safety risks, CASA may also seek prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which could lead to more severe penalties, including imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the breach. The specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text but generally reflect the seriousness of the safety implications of non-compliance with airworthiness directives.