EASA AD G-2023-0005-E
CAMERON / ALUGAS - Fuel Cylinders — Withdrawal from Service
Summary
Civil Aviation Authority Emergency Airworthiness Directive G-2023-0005-E addresses safety concerns related to Cameron Balloons Ltd fuel cylinders Part Number CB2990 Issue A (Alugas) installed on hot-air balloons and airships. The directive applies to cylinders with serial numbers OC25001 to OC25202 and QI14001 to QI14496, requiring their withdrawal from service due to weld cracks that could release propane. This affects balloons manufactured by Cameron Balloons Ltd, Colt Balloons, Lindstrand Balloons Ltd, Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd, Sky Balloons, Thunder Balloons, and Thunder & Colt.
What Changed
This directive supersedes the previous AD G-2022-0010-E and mandates the permanent removal from service of all CB2990 Issue A (Alugas) fuel cylinders. It confirms the redesign of the affected cylinders to Issue B standard and updates the applicability list accordingly. The new directive enforces that no further flight is permitted with the affected cylinders and requires them to be emptied and rendered unserviceable for LPG storage.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent potential propane leaks caused by cracks in the fuel cylinder welds, which pose a significant safety risk. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to avoid unsafe conditions and regulatory violations. The permanent withdrawal of the affected cylinders impacts fleet management and maintenance planning for operators using the specified balloons and airships.
What To Do
From 2 August 2023, operators must remove all affected CB2990 Issue A fuel cylinders from service immediately and ensure they are emptied and rendered unserviceable for LPG storage. No further flights are allowed with these cylinders installed. Compliance with Cameron Balloons Alert Service Bulletin SB33 Revision 2 is required to meet the directive's mandates.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.