COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CASR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes
AD/TSA-600/49 Auxiliary Fuel Transfer Pumps 1/2004
DM
Applicability: PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P and PA-60-700P aeroplanes incorporating supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1608NM (Machen Inc. Kit No. 76-1, auxiliary fuel tank).
Requirement: 1. Inspect all auxiliary fuel tank transfer pumps for leaking, seeping, and any signs of staining in accordance with Machen Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) 76-009, dated 1 August 2003.
2. Replace any auxiliary fuel transfer pump that is leaking, seeping, or has any signs of staining in accordance with Machen Inc. SB 76-009, dated 1 August 2003.
Note: FAA AD 2003-22-01 Amdt 39-13348 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this Directive. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS.
2. Prior to further flight after any inspection as detailed in Requirement 1 of this Directive in which leaking, seeping, or any signs of staining is found.
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 26 November 2003.
Background: This Directive is the result of reports of fuel leaking from the fuel transfer pumps installed below the auxiliary fuel tank. This Directive requires an inspection to detect leaks, and rectification to correct any leaks found in the auxiliary fuel transfer pumps, which could result in fire or explosion in the cargo/passenger compartment. Such a condition could result in loss of the airplane.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 20 November 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 November 2003.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, as amended, were enacted to establish safety standards and procedures to ensure the safety of civil aviation operations within Australia. The specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under PART 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 targets Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes, specifically addressing issues related to auxiliary fuel transfer pumps. This directive was introduced to mitigate the risk of fuel leaks, which could potentially lead to fires or explosions in the cargo/passenger compartment, thereby enhancing overall flight safety. The AD was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, David Villiers, on 20 November 2003, and became effective on 26 November 2003. The primary policy objective of this directive is to mandate regular inspections and necessary repairs of auxiliary fuel transfer pumps to prevent unsafe conditions that could compromise the integrity and safety of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, particularly PART 39 - 105, establish the scope and application of Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This specific Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series aeroplanes, specifically those bearing serial numbers PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P, and PA-60-700P, which incorporate supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1608NM, as well as Machen Inc. Kit No. 76-1, auxiliary fuel tank. The directive mandates inspections and repairs of auxiliary fuel transfer pumps to address potential leaks and staining that could lead to hazardous conditions, such as fires or explosions within the aircraft’s cargo or passenger compartments. The AD is applicable nationwide within the Commonwealth of Australia and is effective from 26 November 2003. Compliance with this directive must occur within 10 hours of its effective date and subsequently at intervals not exceeding 50 hours of time-in-service. This directive extends its application through subordinate instruments, ensuring it is binding and enforceable across the specified aircraft and conditions.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, in the context of the Airworthiness Directive AD/TSA-600/49, require specific actions to be taken regarding Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes. According to section 1 of the AD, all auxiliary fuel tank transfer pumps must be inspected for any signs of leaking, seeping, or staining, as detailed in the Machen Inc. Service Bulletin 76-009 dated 1 August 2003. If any such defects are found during the inspection, the transfer pumps must be replaced as per the same service bulletin (section 2). This inspection and replacement must be carried out within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD, which was 26 November 2003. After the initial compliance, inspections must occur at intervals not exceeding 50 hours TIS, and any necessary replacement must occur immediately after an inspection that reveals defects.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this Airworthiness Directive are quite specific and detailed. Aircraft operators or owners of the Aerostar (Piper/Ted Smith) 600 and 700 Series Aeroplanes must ensure that the auxiliary fuel tank transfer pumps are inspected and, if necessary, replaced according to the schedule and instructions provided. The compliance section of the AD stipulates that the first inspection and any subsequent corrective actions must be completed within a stringent timeframe following the AD's effective date. It is also necessary to perform the inspections before any further flight if defects are found during the inspection process. These obligations are designed to ensure that any potential fuel leaks are detected and rectified promptly, thereby maintaining the safety of the aircraft and preventing any risk of fire or explosion that could endanger the cargo, passengers, or the aircraft itself.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the AD/TSA-600/49 may result in civil or criminal consequences. Under section 39.1 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, non-compliance with an Airworthiness Directive can be considered an offence. The potential penalties for such offences may include fines and other civil sanctions. The exact penalties are not specified in the AD but can be substantial, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring aircraft safety. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to the grounding of the aircraft, which would have significant operational and financial implications for the aircraft operator or owner. The overarching aim of these potential consequences is to ensure strict adherence to the AD to maintain the highest safety standards in civil aviation.