AD/CESSNA 150/37 - Fuel Quantity Placarding

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39 - 105, incorporates the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The legislation aims to address safety concerns and ensure the airworthiness of aircraft, particularly focusing on the correct placarding of fuel quantities for specific Cessna models. This directive, AD/CESSNA 150/37, was introduced to address the problem of incorrect fuel quantity markings, which could adversely affect flight planning and fuel endurance. The policy objective is to mandate compliance within 100 hours of the aircraft's time in service after the directive's publication date, ensuring that all fuel quantity placards correctly reflect the actual fuel capacity and usable fuel quantities as specified in the directive. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 provide a framework for maintaining the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australia. This specific directive, focusing on Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 series aeroplanes, underscores the importance of accurate fuel quantity information to prevent potential flight hazards. Compliance with the directive is mandatory for the specified aircraft models and serial numbers, ensuring that fuel placards are correctly marked and any discrepancies are rectified promptly.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically address the maintenance and operational safety of certain aircraft types through the issuance of airworthiness directives. One such directive pertains to the Cessna 150, F150, 152 & F152 series aeroplanes, with a particular focus on the fuel quantity placarding for specific models and serial numbers. This directive applies to Cessna Model 152 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 15283592 to 15284627, and Model A152 aircraft with serial numbers from A1520879 to A1520952. The directive mandates several checks and corrective actions to ensure the placarding accurately reflects the fuel tank capacities and usable fuel quantities. Compliance with this directive is required within 100 hours of the aircraft being in service after 31 May 1981. The directive is intended to mitigate risks associated with incorrect fuel quantity markings, which could potentially affect flight planning and safety. The directive references FAA AD 81-05-01, Amendment 39-4049, indicating alignment with international standards and practices in aviation safety.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly Part 39 - 105 concerning Airworthiness Directives, includes a specific directive for Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 series aeroplanes, as outlined in AD/CESSNA 150/37. This directive addresses the requirement for proper fuel quantity placarding, which is crucial for accurate fuel endurance calculations during flight planning (AD/CESSNA 150/37). The directive applies to specific models of the Cessna 152 and A152 series, with serial numbers ranging from 15283592 to 15284627 for the 152 series and from A1520879 to A1520952 for the A152 series. Under this directive, operators of the affected aircraft must ensure that the fuel tank access cover is correctly identified, as shown in Figure 1 of the directive (AD/CESSNA 150/37, Requirement 1). Additionally, they must inspect the placarding adjacent to the fuel filler openings to verify that the markings match the actual tank capacity specified in Figure 1 (AD/CESSNA 150/37, Requirement 2). Furthermore, operators are required to inspect the fuel gauge markings and the placard adjacent to the fuel selector valve to ensure they align with the usable fuel quantities for the installed tanks (AD/CESSNA 150/37, Requirement 3). Any discrepancies in the placarding must be corrected by replacing the incorrect markings with those compatible with the correct fuel tank capacity (AD/CESSNA 150/37, Requirement 4). This involves ensuring that all placards and gauge markings reflect accurate fuel quantities to avoid any potential issues related to fuel endurance during flight. Operators of the specified Cessna models must adhere to these requirements within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1981 to maintain compliance with the Airworthiness Directive (AD/CESSNA 150/37, Compliance). Failure to comply with these provisions can result in significant safety risks, as incorrect fuel quantity markings may adversely affect flight planning and potentially compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. Operators are thus mandated to ensure that all fuel-related placards and gauges are correctly marked and verified as per the directive. Non-compliance with the requirements set forth in AD/CESSNA 150/37 may lead to various consequences, including potential enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, violations of airworthiness directives can result in penalties. The specific penalties for such breaches can include fines and other civil or criminal sanctions as prescribed by relevant aviation laws. The precise penalties may vary based on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the regulatory authority, but they are intended to enforce compliance and ensure the safety of air operations.