1AD/BAL/20 - Cameron/Thunder & Colt Pressure Relief Valves

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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Hot Air Balloons

AD/BAL/20 Cameron/Thunder & Colt Pressure Relief Valves 3/99

Applicability: All pressure relief valves fitted to propane fuel cylinders supplied for flight by Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Ltd and Thunder & Colt Ltd.

Requirement: 1. Inspect the propane fuel cylinder pressure relief valve in accordance with the instructions in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4.

2. Replace the pressure relief valve in accordance with the instructions in Cameron Balloons (Thunder & Colt) Service Bulletin No. SB4.

Note: UK CAA AD 002-11-98 refers.

Compliance: 1. Unless already accomplished, within six months of the effective date of this Directive or at the annual inspection, whichever occurs sooner, and thereafter every twelve months.

2. a. On any occasion when corrosion is detected during the inspection at Requirement 1 above, or

3. b. Every 10 years during recertification of the gas cylinder in accordance with AS 2030.1 - 1989 (see Note) as required by AD/BAL/3 Amdt 1, or

   2. c. If the pressure relief valve is older than ten years at the time of the inspection at
   1. above. If the pressure valve has been replaced before the ten yearly recertification of the gas cylinder falls due, the pressure valve may be retained and replaced when it reaches ten years in service.

Note: AS 2030.1-1989 does not apply to aviation gas cylinders under normal circumstances. For the purposes of this Directive, the test standards called up in AS2030 for LPG cylinders are to be applied in full (as specified in AD/BAL/3 Amdt 3).

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 March 1999.

Background: Experience in the United Kingdom has shown that, in the absence of legislation such as AS2030, operators were not inspecting the gas fittings on their balloons on a regular basis for serviceability. This has resulted in several serious incidents. This Directive is based upon a UK CAA AD introduced to ensure regular inspection of LPG gas fittings for integrity and absence of corrosion.