AD/TSA-600/16 Amdt 1 - Fuel Quantity Indicator Selector Switch - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as part of the Commonwealth of Australia's legislative framework, were enacted to ensure the safe operation of aircraft within Australian airspace. This regulation, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to airworthiness directives for various aircraft models, including the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/TSA-600/16 Amendment 1, addresses the inspection of the fuel quantity indicator selector switch, aiming to rectify issues that could potentially compromise flight safety. The objective is to ensure that the fuel quantity indication system functions correctly, thus maintaining the integrity of flight operations. Compliance with these directives is mandatory and must be achieved within 25 hours of the aircraft being in service after 7 August 1978.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, mandates that Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 series aeroplanes with airframe serial numbers ranging from 0150 to 0520 comply with the Airworthiness Directive (AD) TSA-600/16 Amendment 1. This legislation applies to aircraft operators and maintenance personnel responsible for ensuring the airworthiness of these specific aircraft models. The directive requires the inspection and testing of the fuel quantity indicator selector switch, ensuring that the system accurately registers fuel levels for both left and right wing tanks. The inspection must be conducted within 25 hours of the aircraft being in service after 7 August 1978, and involves a series of steps including reading and recording fuel quantities, adding a specific amount of fuel to one wing tank, and verifying that the added fuel registers correctly. Compliance with this directive is critical for maintaining safe flight operations within the Commonwealth of Australia, and failure to adhere to these requirements could result in non-compliance with civil aviation safety standards. The scope of this regulation is explicitly limited to Aerostar 600 and 700 series aeroplanes within the specified serial number range. The directive's application is geographically confined to the national airspace of the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive itself, though broader regulatory frameworks may provide additional context or conditions. The directive's requirements are directly stated without reliance on subordinate instruments for extension or restriction, ensuring a clear and unambiguous application for those affected by its provisions.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105 and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, includes an amendment concerning Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. This particular directive, AD/TSA-600/16 Amendment 1, focuses on the inspection of the fuel quantity indicator selector switch. This directive applies to all Aerostar aeroplanes with airframe serial numbers ranging from 0150 to 0520 (Section 1). The requirement is to either comply with FAA AD 78-18-05 amendment 39-3295, follow Piper Aerostar Bulletin SB600-76, or conduct a specific inspection and recording process when both wing tanks are at least 50% depleted. This involves reading and recording fuel quantities, adding 10 gallons to one tank, re-reading the quantities, and verifying that the selector switch correctly registers the added fuel. If the selector does not register correctly, further action is required to correct the fuel quantity indicating system before further flight (Section 3). The obligations imposed by this directive on the relevant parties include adherence to the specified procedures for inspecting and recording fuel quantities in the aeroplane's fuel system. Operators must ensure that the inspection is carried out within 25 hours of the aeroplane being in service after the directive's effective date, 7 August 1978 (Section 1). This involves ensuring that the aeroplanes meet the specified safety standards by either following the FAA amendment or Piper bulletin, or by manually inspecting and recording the fuel quantities as outlined. Proper documentation of the inspection process and any corrective actions taken must be maintained to demonstrate compliance. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this directive may result in the aeroplane being deemed unairworthy. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which may include penalties or other regulatory consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the excerpt provided, it is known that non-compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations can result in significant fines and legal repercussions for the operators and manufacturers. It is therefore crucial that all parties adhere strictly to the outlined requirements to avoid any potential enforcement actions.