AD/CESSNA 150/19 - Seat Frame

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Australian Government, aim to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within Australia. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of these regulations provides a schedule of airworthiness directives, which are legally enforceable rules related to the design, production, and maintenance of aircraft to ensure they meet safety standards. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 150/19, addresses the seat frames in certain Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 series aeroplanes, ensuring that these aircraft maintain their airworthiness by adhering to specific maintenance requirements. This directive applies to all models with specific serial numbers and requires compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1971, or according to Cessna Service Letter No. SE70-30. The policy objective is to mitigate safety risks by ensuring that these aircraft are maintained to the required standards, thereby protecting passengers, crew, and the general public.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically addresses the maintenance and operation of certain Cessna aeroplanes, including the 150, F150, 152 and F152 series. This legislation applies to all models of these aircraft with specific serial numbers, namely those with serial numbers ranging from 15071129 to 15072003, A15000001 to A15000177, F15000530 to F15000698, and FA15000001 to FA15000081. The regulation mandates that any action taken must comply with the requirements of Cessna Service Letter SE70-30. Compliance with these directives is necessary within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1971. These regulations are applicable nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, overseen by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The legislation does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and the scope of application is directly tied to the specified serial numbers and timeframe for compliance.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly within Part 39 - 105, concern Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). One such AD, AD/CESSNA 150/19, pertains specifically to the seat frames of Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 series aeroplanes. This AD applies to all models with specified serial numbers (15071129 to 15072003, A15000001 to A15000177, F15000530 to F15000698, and FA15000001 to FA15000081). According to section (3/71), the requirement is for aircraft operators to take action in accordance with Cessna Service Letter (SL) No. SE70-30. This action must be completed within 100 hours of time in service after 31 March 1971. The obligations imposed by this AD require aircraft operators to ensure that the seat frames of their affected Cessna models comply with the specified service letter. This involves conducting any necessary inspections, repairs, or modifications as outlined in the Cessna SL No. SE70-30. Failure to comply with these requirements could potentially compromise the airworthiness of the aircraft, thereby putting passengers and crew at risk. Operators must document and maintain records of the actions taken to comply with the AD, as well as the dates and details of the compliance activities. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 outline specific consequences for non-compliance with ADs. Any breach of these requirements may result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the violation. For instance, if an operator fails to comply with an AD, CASA may issue a Notice of Proposed Enforcement Action. In more severe cases, CASA can impose fines, suspend or revoke aircraft certificates, or take legal action against the operator. The maximum penalties for such breaches can include substantial fines, reflecting the critical importance of adhering to airworthiness directives to ensure the safety of aviation operations.