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 170/32
Amdt 1
Vented Fuel Caps 8/80
Applicability: Model 170 with S/Nos. 609 and 18729 to 27169.
Model 172 with S/Nos. 610, 612, 615, 622, 625, 630, 638, 28000 to 29999, 36000 to
36999, 46001 to 47746 and 17247747 to 17265684.
Model P172 with S/Nos P17257120 to P17257188.
Model R172 with S/Nos. P17227189 and R1720001 to R1720617.
Model 175 with S/Nos. 619, 28700A, 55001to 56777 and 17556778 to 17557119.
Requirement: Install vented fuel cap(s) in accordance with:
1. Cessna SL No. SE 77-6; or
2. FAA AD 79-10-14, Amendment 39-3475; or
3. Bureau Veritas AD 79-155-IMP(A).
Note: Installation of a placard is not an acceptable alternative to installation of vented fuel caps.
Compliance: Within 100 hours time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980 whichever is the later.
Background: To guard against the possibility of either an obstructed primary vent or sticking of the fuel tank vent valve it has been found necessary to provide secondary venting in the form of vented fuel caps. Due to some misinterpretation of this Directive a NOTE has now been added to disallow the fitting of a placard.
Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2006B04964
Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are designed to regulate the safety and operation of civil aviation within the country. Among these regulations, Part 39 - 105 pertains to airworthiness directives, which are binding instructions issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. Specifically, AD/CESSNA 170/32 Amendment 1, which was introduced on 8 August 1980, addresses the issue of ensuring secondary venting for Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 Series Aeroplanes to prevent potential hazards such as obstructed primary vents or sticking fuel tank vent valves. This directive mandates the installation of vented fuel caps in specified models and serial numbers, with compliance required within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980, whichever is later. The policy objective is to enhance aviation safety by providing an additional layer of protection against fuel tank-related issues.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Schedule of Airworthiness Directives for certain Cessna aeroplanes, applies to the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series. This directive mandates that specific models with particular serial numbers must install vented fuel caps to prevent issues such as obstructed primary vents or sticking fuel tank vent valves. The requirement applies to individual aircraft within the specified serial number ranges and mandates compliance within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980, whichever is later. Notably, the installation of a placard is not an acceptable alternative to the installation of vented fuel caps. The regulation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and extends to any entities or persons operating these specific aircraft models within Australian jurisdiction. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the directive itself, although compliance is contingent upon adherence to the specified installation methods and timeframes.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, particularly under Part 39 - 105, addresses the airworthiness directives for specific Cessna models, namely the 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes. The relevant directive, AD/CESSNA 170/32 Amendment 1, focuses on the installation of vented fuel caps (Section 1). This directive applies to specific serial numbers within these models, including Cessna 170 with serial numbers 609 and 18729 to 27169, Cessna 172 with serial numbers ranging from 610 to 638 and 28000 to 65684, Cessna P172 with serial numbers P17257120 to P17257188, Cessna R172 with serial numbers P17227189 to R1720617, and Cessna 175 with serial numbers 619, 28700A, 55001 to 56777, and 17556778 to 17557119 (Section 2). The directive mandates the installation of vented fuel caps according to specified standards: Cessna SL No. SE 77-6, FAA AD 79-10-14, Amendment 39-3475, or Bureau Veritas AD 79-155-IMP(A) (Section 3). It is crucial that these caps be installed in place of any placards, as placards are not considered an acceptable alternative (Section 4).
Operators and owners of the affected aircraft must ensure compliance with these directives within 100 hours of time in service after 31 August 1979 or before 1 January 1980, whichever is later (Section 5). The primary objective of these directives is to mitigate risks associated with obstructed primary vents or sticking fuel tank vent valves by providing secondary venting through the installation of vented fuel caps. This proactive measure aims to enhance the safety and reliability of the aircraft in operation (Section 6). Operators must follow the specified installation procedures meticulously to avoid any potential safety hazards, ensuring that the aircraft meet the required airworthiness standards (Section 7).
Failure to comply with these airworthiness directives can result in severe consequences. Non-compliance may lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which can prevent it from operating legally. Such non-compliance could also lead to civil penalties, including fines, as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Regulations (Section 8). Furthermore, there may be criminal liabilities for those responsible for the aircraft, including potential imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and the resultant impact on aviation safety (Section 9). The maximum penalties for these violations are outlined in the Civil Aviation Act 1988, which includes fines and imprisonment terms that can vary based on the specific circumstances of the breach (Section 10).