Commonwealth legislation

AD/ELECT/23 - Nickel Cadmium Batteries with Polystyrene Cell Cases - Inspection and Replacement

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

3/10 complexity

This rule requires aircraft operators to inspect and replace nickel‑cadmium starter/APU batteries that have polystyrene (clear/yellow) cell cases because they’re prone to heat damage. It applies to anyone using Ni‑Cd batteries except systems with automatic temperature control. Operators must inspect soon after the effective date and weekly until replaced, replace damaged cells immediately (or the whole battery by the compliance deadline), and watch for rebuilt batteries with mixed cell types.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/ELECT/23 - Nickel Cadmium Batteries with Polystyrene Cell Cases - Inspection and Replacement.

AD/ELECT/23 - Nickel Cadmium Batteries with Polystyrene Cell Cases - Inspection and Replacement

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 107 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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Electrical Equipment

AD/ELECT/23 Nickel Cadmium Batteries with Polystyrene

Cell Cases - Inspection and Replacement

1/72

Applicability: Any nickel cadmium battery, containing polystyrene cell cases, that is capable of being used to start an aircraft engine or A.P.U., except those installed in aircraft which have the battery charging automatically controlled as a function of battery temperature.

Requirement: 1. Visually inspect each battery including the cell links and cell tops for evidence of heat damage.

(a) Replace each cell having a polystyrene case with an equivalent cell having a nylon case; OR
(b) Replace any battery containing any polystyrene cell cases with a battery which is approved for aircraft use containing all nylon cells.

Compliance: For Para. 1 - Within 30 hours time in service after 28 January 1972 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 7 days for a battery that is used for an engine or A.P.U. start, or attempted start, until replacement of the battery in accordance with para. 2.

For Para. 2 - Any battery found to have evidence of heat damage - before further flight, and for any other battery before 1 August 1972.

Note 1: Polystyrene cell cases can be identified by their clear or slight yellow plastic appearance. Marathon (Sonotone) batteries manufactured prior to 1969 (Type CA20, CA20H and CA21H) contained polystyrene cell cases. Marathon batteries manufactured in 1969 or later and those manufactured by others contain nylon cells which can be identified by their milky white or bluish appearance.

Note 2: Any battery rebuilt since new may contain a mixture of polystyrene and nylon cells.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 AD/ELECT/23 - Nickel Cadmium Batteries with Polystyrene Cell Cases - Inspection and Replacement