Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/CESSNA 150/47 in March 2003 to address safety concerns associated with the wiring of cigar lighters in certain Cessna 150, F150, 152 and F152 series aeroplanes. This AD was introduced to mitigate the risk of unprotected electrical wiring from the cigar lighter causing short circuits, which could lead to in-flight electrical system failures, smoke in the cockpit, and potential fires within the wire bundle behind the instrument panel. The directive applies to specific serial numbers of these aircraft models and requires the disconnection of the wire connecting the electrical bus to the cigar lighter receptacle, with subsequent actions to either reconnect with a properly rated circuit protection device, remove the wire entirely, or insulate and secure the disconnected end. The directive mandates compliance at the next annual inspection, but no later than 100 hours of flight time or 12 months after the directive's effective date, whichever comes first. This measure was prompted by incidents reported overseas and aims to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of these aircraft.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to the Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 Series Aeroplanes, with applicable serial numbers as detailed in the directive. This AD applies to aircraft within the Australian jurisdiction, targeting the specific models and serial number ranges to address an identified unsafe condition related to the wiring of the cigar lighter receptacle. The directive mandates that corrective action be taken by disconnecting the wire connecting the electrical bus to the cigar lighter receptacle, ensuring it is either properly protected by a circuit protection device, completely removed from the aircraft, or securely insulated. The directive applies to all such aircraft within the specified serial numbers and aims to prevent potential in-flight electrical failures, cockpit smoke, and fire risks. The directive is effective from 20 March 2003, and compliance must be achieved within 100 hours of service or 12 months from the effective date, whichever comes first.

Key Provisions

The Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies specifically to certain models of Cessna 150, F150, 152, and F152 series aeroplanes, with particular serial numbers (Section 3). The directive mandates the disconnection of a wire connected to the cigar lighter receptacle to prevent potential unsafe conditions, such as electrical system failures, smoke in the cockpit, or fires. This action must be taken in accordance with the outlined requirements and within the specified timeframe (Section 3). The AD imposes obligations on the owners and operators of the specified aircraft models to ensure the specified wiring modifications are carried out. Specifically, they must either disconnect the wire at the ammeter or electrical system bus and either reconnect it with a properly rated circuit protection device, disconnect and remove the wire from the lighter receptacle, or insulate and secure the wire's disconnected end (Section 3). These modifications must be completed either at the next annual inspection or within 100 hours of time in service, whichever comes first, and no later than 12 months after the effective date of the directive (Section 3). Failure to comply with the AD can result in serious consequences, including the potential for in-flight electrical failures, smoke, or fire, which could compromise the safety of the aircraft. While the AD itself does not specify penalties, non-compliance with ADs can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines or other regulatory actions to ensure compliance with aviation safety standards (Section 3).