Lindstrand T30 Titanium cylinders EASA PAD 18-035 issued
EASA have, in a surprise move (well, surprised us!), issued a PAD (Proposed Airworthiness Directive) rather than the ‘Cameron promised’ imminent Airworthiness Directive. Now this is interesting as it won’t become an Airworthiness Directive until the, what is now a public, consultation process finishes on 06 April 2018. Following earlier discussions and testing in conjunction with Cameron Balloons, the British Balloon & Airship Club issued a statement to the effect that they would not support the removal of all the T30 cylinders from service in the original Cameron issued Service Bulletin but had no issues with the known, apparently, defective cylinders, as listed in CBL SB25 Revision 3, being withdrawn from service. This PAD refers only to the cylinders listed in SB25 Revision 3. No other Lindstrand T30 cylinders are affected. It is important to note that Cameron Balloons Service Bulletin 26, to get T30 cylinders X-rayed, remains as a ‘Highly Recommended’ and is not an Airworthiness Directive, which means that it is at the discretion of the owner. Following independent testing Easy Balloons supports the BBAC that further testing of T30 cylinders by X-raying them is not necessary providing the annual/100hour and periodic testing, as set out in the current, appropriate maintenance manual, is carried out. We have no problems with the PAD as it stands being adopted in connection with SB25 but do not wish to see CBL SB26 become an Airworthiness Directive. That it has taken nearly a year for EASA to issue the PAD in connection with known failed T30s, that, as far as we are aware, are not in service anyway, then the urgency of the matter is clearly not an issue. At the present moment in time the known faulty cylinders can remain in service by choice but we would not recommend that despite one with known weld faults surviving cyclic testing well above current requirements.
Please note that this will not appear in the AD, SB listings on our website and no logbook entries are required until the consultation period closes and only if it is adopted.
Here is a summary of PAD 18-25. If you wish to comment on it please be factual and to the point. If you own T30 cylinders then it is probably helpful to accept the withdrawal of the failed ones accepting that SB26 remains only as ‘Highly Recommended’ based on the evidence gathered by the BBAC.
* PAD 18-035 AEROSTATS\BALLONS, CHAIZE\BALLONS, LIBERT\BALLONSERVICE & TECHNIK\BALONY KUBICEK\CAMERON BALLOONS\LINDSTRAND TECHNOLOGIES\SCHROEDER FIRE BALLOONS\ULTRAMAGIC: Fuel Cell Systems Lindstrand T30 Propane Cylinders Removal from Service.
Information
Cameron Balloons Limited SB 25, Revision 3 dated 07 November 2017. The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned document is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.
Remarks
1. This Proposed AD will be closed for consultation on 06 April 2018.
2. Enquiries regarding this PAD should be referred to the EASA Safety Information Section, Certification Directorate. E-mail: ADs[at]easa.europa.eu.
Notes
1. The above list of manufacturers (some companies no longer exist) may not be complete, due to lack of historical data. In case a balloon manufacturer’s name is not
listed, that does not mean that this proposed AD does not apply to that balloon – see the Applicability below.
2. The Lindstrand T30 cylinders were manufactured by Aeroecology (Russia) and introduced into service from 1995 with Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Limited accepting Type Design responsibility for a batch of cylinders, some of which were allocated additional serial numbers.
3. Cameron Balloons Limited are the current Type Certificate Holder for some Types of Hot Air Balloons manufactured by Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Limited.
Applicability
All balloon types and models, as specified in the referenced TCDS listed above, all serial numbers.
Definition(s)
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply: The SB: Cameron
Balloons Limited Service Bulletin (SB) 25, Revision 3. Affected cylinder: Lindstrand T30 propane cylinders, Part Number CY050001, with a serial number as listed in SB 25 Revision3.
Reason:
A review of cylinder production records has shown that the affected cylinders have unacceptable welding defects. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in an uncontrolled release of liquid propane and consequent fire or explosion, with consequent injury to balloon occupants and persons on the ground. To address this potential unsafe condition, Cameron Balloons Limited issued the SB, providing instructions to remove the affected cylinders from service. For the reasons described above, this (proposed) AD requires replacement of the affected cylinders with serviceable parts.
TE.CAP.00112-005 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet. An agency of the European UnionEASA PAD No.: 18-035
Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)
Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously: Replacement:
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, replace each affected cylinder with a serviceable part in accordance with the instructions of the SB.
(2) From the effective date of this AD, do not install on any hot air balloon an affected cylinder.
Ref. Publications
Cameron Balloons Limited SB 25, Revision 3 dated 07 November 2017.
The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned document is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.
Remarks
1. This Proposed AD will be closed for consultation on 06 April 2018.
2. Enquiries regarding this PAD should be referred to the EASA Safety Information Section, Certification Directorate. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.
3. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in this PAD, please contact: Cameron Balloons Limited, Telephone +44 (0)117 9637216, E-mail: technical@cameronballoons.co.uk, website: http://www.cameronballoons.co.uk/support.
TO see the details OF this Publication, please click OR copy the following: URL: http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/18-035