Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 as the primary legislative instrument governing aviation safety in Australia, enacted to fill the legislative gap in ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations. This regulation, as part of the broader legislative framework, aims to maintain high safety standards within the aviation industry, ensuring that aircraft meet stringent airworthiness criteria. The regulations are enforced by CASA and include specific directives such as the one for the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes, addressing potential safety issues through mandatory checks and maintenance procedures. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 170/46, targets the elevator cable clevis to aft elevator bellcrank attachment in specified models of Cessna aircraft, focusing on ensuring the integrity of the elevator control system. This directive mandates specific actions to be taken within a defined timeframe, such as removing and reinstalling specific components, cleaning mating surfaces, and inspecting for clearance, among other steps, to prevent potential jamming of the elevator cable turnbuckles. The policy objective here is to proactively address and mitigate risks associated with the identified safety concerns, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, as amended, under Part 39 - 105, establish Airworthiness Directives specifically targeting safety issues in aviation. This particular directive, AD/CESSNA 170/46, pertains to the elevator control system of specific Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes, requiring the removal and replacement of split pins, nuts, and bolts, cleaning and inspection of mating surfaces, and verification of proper clearance and tension in the elevator cables. The directive applies to all model 172N aircraft with serial numbers between 17271035 and 17274523, model R172K aircraft with serial numbers between R1722930 and R1723425, model 172RG aircraft with serial numbers from 172RG0001 to 172RG0789, model F172 aircraft with serial numbers between F17201750 and F17202134, and model FR172 aircraft with serial numbers between FR1720631 and FR1720675. The requirement must be met within 100 hours of time in service after 31 October 1981 unless already accomplished. This directive applies nationally across Australia as it is part of the Commonwealth's regulatory framework for civil aviation.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 105, specifically the AD/CESSNA 170/46 Airworthiness Directive, focus on the maintenance and inspection of certain Cessna models to ensure the integrity of the elevator control system. Section 10/81 details the specific steps that need to be undertaken, such as the removal and reinstallation of split pins, nuts, and clevis bolts, as well as the visual inspection and operational checks of the elevator control system (section 10/81). Compliance with these requirements is mandatory for specific serial numbers of Cessna 172N, R172K, 172RG, F172, and FR172 models, as listed in the directive (section 10/81). The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. Primarily, it mandates that the specified Cessna models undergo a thorough inspection and maintenance procedure to address potential issues with the elevator control system. This includes the removal and replacement of specific hardware components, cleaning of mating surfaces, ensuring proper clearances, and checking the elevator cable tension to ensure it meets the specified parameters (section 10/81). Additionally, the operational check of the elevator control system is mandatory to verify that the modifications have been correctly implemented and that the system is functioning as intended (section 10/81). Failure to comply with the provisions outlined in the AD/CESSNA 170/46 Airworthiness Directive could lead to severe consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with airworthiness directives typically results in civil or criminal penalties under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but they may include substantial fines, suspension or revocation of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness, or even criminal charges in cases of gross negligence or willful disregard of safety regulations. Operators and owners of the affected Cessna models are therefore required to adhere strictly to the specified maintenance and inspection procedures to avoid these potential legal repercussions.