AD/TSA-600/31 - Turbocharger Oil System Supply Hose - Replacement

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, were established to ensure the safety and regulation of civil aviation within the country. This legislation includes specific directives aimed at maintaining airworthiness, such as the Airworthiness Directives (AD) for various aircraft types. One such directive, AD/TSA-600/31, pertains to Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 series aeroplanes. This directive was introduced to address the identified problem of burned and chafed turbocharger oil supply hoses, which could potentially compromise the safety of these aircraft. The policy objective behind this regulation is to ensure the continued airworthiness of affected aeroplanes by mandating the replacement of the turbocharger oil system supply hose and rerouting to prevent further damage. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1983, as outlined in Piper Service Bulletin No. 761.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series aeroplanes, encompassing all models with specified serial numbers and those equipped with the retrofit option 106 automatic wastegate controller. This regulation mandates the replacement of turbocharger oil system supply hoses to prevent issues arising from burning and chafing. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1983. The regulations apply nationally, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), ensuring that all relevant aircraft operators adhere to this safety directive to mitigate risks associated with the identified issue. The applicability of these regulations extends to all aircraft models within the specified serial numbers and retrofit installations, ensuring that the safety standards set forth by the authority are uniformly enforced across the aviation industry.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, include a Schedule of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that govern the maintenance and operation of certain aircraft models. In this context, AD/TSA-600/31 pertains to the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 series aeroplanes, and it mandates the replacement of the turbocharger oil system supply hose to address issues of burning and chafing. This directive applies to all PA-60-601 Aerostar models with specific serial numbers and those with retrofit option 106 installed, as well as the PA-60-601P and PA-60-602P models within their respective serial number ranges. The compliance requirement is to complete the replacement within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1983, as indicated in Piper SB No. 761. The obligations imposed by this AD include ensuring that the affected aircraft undergo the necessary maintenance to replace the turbocharger oil supply hoses. This is to prevent the risk of hose failure, which could lead to engine damage or failure. Aircraft operators and maintenance personnel must adhere to the manufacturer’s specifications and ensure that the replacement hoses are of the appropriate material and routing as prescribed in the Piper Service Bulletin No. 761. It is essential that this maintenance is documented and verified to confirm compliance with the AD. Failure to comply with AD/TSA-600/31 can result in serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Regulations, non-compliance with an airworthiness directive can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Such actions can include the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Enforcement (NPE), which may result in penalties. The maximum penalty for failing to comply with an airworthiness directive can be substantial, both financially and operationally. For corporations, the penalty can amount to up to $1,008,000, while individuals can face penalties of up to $216,000. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the AD to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in question.