AD/CA-6/2 - Fuel Selector Cock - Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, address the maintenance and safety standards for civil aircraft in Australia. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, this legislation aims to ensure that all civil aircraft meet stringent safety and operational standards, thereby protecting the public and enhancing the overall safety of the aviation industry. The regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and include specific directives such as AD/CA-6/2, which mandates the inspection and maintenance of fuel selector cocks for Wackett Trainer Series aeroplanes. The objective is to prevent mechanical failures that could compromise flight safety by ensuring that these components operate within specified tolerances. The policy objective behind these regulations is to maintain a high standard of airworthiness for all civil aircraft operating in Australia. By setting specific inspection and maintenance requirements, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 help mitigate risks associated with mechanical failures, ensuring that aircraft are safe to operate. CASA's role is to enforce these regulations and ensure compliance, thereby upholding the safety and reliability of Australia's civil aviation fleet.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, encompasses the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for various aircraft models, including the C.A.C CA-6 (Wackett Trainer) Series Aeroplanes. This regulation applies to all models within the specified series and mandates detailed inspection and maintenance of the fuel selector cock. Operators and owners of these aircraft are required to inspect the fuel selector cock to ensure that the backlash does not exceed 15 degrees when measured on the selector quadrant in the front cockpit, and to verify that there is a pronounced click when the selector is correctly indexed. Non-compliant fuel cocks must either be replaced or adjusted to meet these standards. Compliance with these directives must occur at intervals not exceeding 40 hours of flight time. These regulations apply throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and extend to all relevant aircraft operating within the country, with no specific exclusions or exemptions noted in the directive itself. The application and enforcement of these safety measures are overseen by CASA, ensuring the continued safety and airworthiness of the specified aircraft.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, detail a schedule of airworthiness directives which govern the maintenance and inspection requirements for various aircraft models, including the C.A.C CA-6 (Wackett Trainer) Series Aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/CA-6/2, concerns the inspection and maintenance of the fuel selector cock (section 1). According to this directive, operators must inspect the fuel selector cock to ensure that the backlash, measured on the selector quadrant in the front cockpit, does not exceed 15 degrees (section 1.1). Additionally, operators are required to check the indexing cam in the cock itself to confirm that there is a pronounced click when the selector is correctly positioned (section 1.2). If the fuel cock does not meet these specified requirements, it must either be replaced or adjusted to meet the standards outlined (section 1.3). Operators of the C.A.C CA-6 (Wackett Trainer) Series Aeroplanes are obligated to perform these inspections at intervals not exceeding 40 hours of time in service (section 2). This requirement ensures that the aircraft's fuel system is regularly checked for functionality and safety, thereby maintaining the airworthiness of the aircraft and ensuring compliance with aviation safety standards. Operators must keep meticulous records of all inspections and any corrective actions taken to demonstrate compliance with these regulatory requirements. Failure to adhere to the provisions of AD/CA-6/2 may result in serious safety hazards, as the fuel selector cock plays a critical role in the operation of the aircraft's fuel system. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may take enforcement actions against operators who fail to comply with these directives. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within the legislative instrument itself, general provisions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 may include fines, suspension or revocation of an operator's certificate, or other regulatory measures. The potential severity of these penalties underscores the importance of strict adherence to the airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of flight operations.