COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 Series Aeroplanes
AD/CESSNA 170/27 Fuel System Placard 5/72
Applicability: All 172 and F172 series with S/Nos. 28000 to 29999, 36000 to 47746 (excluding 46000), 17247747 to 17258855 and F17200001 to F17200779 not incorporating Service Kit 172-31B or 172-32.
Requirement: Action in accordance with Cessna SL SE72-7. Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 May 1972.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which include the Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel within Australian airspace. Specifically, Part 39 - 105 of the Civil Aviation Regulations addresses the maintenance and operational standards for various aircraft types, with AD/CESSNA 170/27 being an example. This directive was enacted to address safety concerns related to the fuel system placard on certain Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes, particularly those with specific serial numbers. The objective of this directive is to mandate compliance with Cessna Service Letter SE72-7 to rectify potential fuel system issues, ensuring that these aircraft meet the necessary safety standards to operate within Australian jurisdiction.
The AD/CESSNA 170/27 directive mandates that specified Cessna aeroplanes must comply with the requirements outlined in Cessna Service Letter SE72-7 within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1972. This requirement aims to mitigate any safety risks associated with the fuel system placard, ensuring that the affected aircraft are airworthy and meet the stringent safety regulations set by CASA. The directive is a crucial component of the broader regulatory framework designed to maintain the highest safety standards in the aviation industry.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, pertains to Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and includes detailed requirements for maintaining the airworthiness of certain aircraft models. In this instance, AD/CESSNA 170/27 targets the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 Series Aeroplanes, with a particular focus on the fuel system placard for specific serial numbers. The regulation applies to aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 28000 to 29999, 36000 to 47746 (excluding 46000), 17247747 to 17258855, and F17200001 to F17200779 that do not incorporate Service Kit 172-31B or 172-32. Compliance with this directive is mandatory and must be achieved within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1972, in accordance with Cessna Service Letter SE72-7. The jurisdictional reach of these regulations is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and they extend to any entity operating such aircraft within Australian airspace. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of this particular directive, though broader exceptions may be found in other sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically in Part 39, contains the Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, which includes AD/CESSNA 170/27 concerning the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172 and 175 series aeroplanes. This directive pertains to the fuel system placard (Section 1) and applies to all 172 and F172 series aircraft with specific serial numbers (Section 2). The directive requires that action be taken in accordance with Cessna Service Letter SE72-7 (Section 3). Compliance with this directive is mandated within 100 hours of time in service after 31 May 1972 (Section 4).
The obligations imposed by AD/CESSNA 170/27 are clear: owners and operators of the specified Cessna models must ensure that the fuel system placard is in compliance with the directive. This involves following the instructions outlined in Cessna Service Letter SE72-7, which may include the installation, replacement, or adjustment of the fuel system placard. Owners and operators must keep records of compliance and ensure that the aircraft meet the specified standards before returning to service after any work on the fuel system.
Breaches of the requirements set out in AD/CESSNA 170/27 can result in serious consequences. Under the Civil Aviation Act 1988, failure to comply with an Airworthiness Directive can lead to the aircraft being deemed airworthy, which can result in enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These actions can include fines, the grounding of the aircraft, and potential criminal charges against the owner or operator. The maximum penalties for non-compliance can include substantial fines and imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of ensuring aircraft safety. The specific penalties depend on the circumstances of the breach and the discretion of the court.