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 170/58 Nose Landing Gear Actuator Attach Fitting 8/95
Applicability: All Cessna 172RG aircraft with Serial Numbers 172RG0001 to 172RG1191 without Cessna reinforcement kit SK172-142 installed.
Requirement: 1. a. Remove the 6 AN23-9A bolts attaching the nose landing gear actuator fitting (P/N 2413002-3) to the lower fuselage skin.
1. b. Inspect the actuator fitting for cracks at the bolt holes using fluorescent penetrant.
1. c. Visually inspect the bolt holes in the skin for elongation and cracking. Replace the skin if elongation in any hole exceeds 0.03 inches.
Note: Cessna Service Bulletin SEB93-8 and Service Kit SK172-142 refer.
Compliance: Initially inspect in accordance with Requirement 1 before 50 hours time in service after 20 July 1995 or before 20 October 1995, whichever occurs first.
Re-inspect at intervals not to exceed 300 hours time in service.
Background: There have been a number of reports of cracking of the nose landing gear actuator fitting and associated elongation of fastener holes in the skin. In two of the reports the fitting was cracked 80% through the thickness. Fitting failure could result in collapse of the nose landing gear.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically under PART 39 - 105, to ensure the safety and airworthiness of aircraft operating in Australia. The legislation was enacted by the Australian Government to address safety concerns and ensure compliance with international aviation standards. One such regulation is AD/CESSNA 170/58, which pertains to the Cessna 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 Series Aeroplanes. This Airworthiness Directive was created in response to reports of cracking in the nose landing gear actuator fitting and associated elongation of fastener holes in the skin of certain Cessna 172RG aircraft, which could potentially lead to a collapse of the nose landing gear. The policy objective of this directive is to mitigate these risks by requiring specific inspections and, if necessary, the replacement of affected components to maintain the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.
Scope and Application
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, applies to all Cessna 172RG aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 172RG0001 to 172RG1191 that have not had the Cessna reinforcement kit SK172-142 installed. This regulation is issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and mandates the inspection and, if necessary, the replacement of the nose landing gear actuator fitting. The regulation requires the removal of specific bolts, an inspection for cracks using fluorescent penetrant, and a visual inspection of the bolt holes for signs of elongation or cracking, with a requirement to replace the skin if any hole's elongation exceeds 0.03 inches. Compliance necessitates an initial inspection within 50 hours of service after 20 July 1995 or before 20 October 1995, whichever is earlier, and subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of service. This regulation is a response to reports of fitting cracking and associated skin elongation, which could potentially lead to a collapse of the nose landing gear. The application of this regulation is national in scope, governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, and does not extend to aircraft that have already been reinforced with the specified Cessna kit.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 (4), contain Airworthiness Directives (AD) concerning certain Cessna aircraft models, namely the 170, 172, F172, FR172, and 175 series aeroplanes. One such directive, AD/CESSNA 170/58, addresses issues with the nose landing gear actuator attach fitting on Cessna 172RG aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 172RG0001 to 172RG1191, excluding those with the Cessna reinforcement kit SK172-142 installed. The directive mandates that the 6 AN23-9A bolts attaching the nose landing gear actuator fitting (P/N 2413002-3) to the lower fuselage skin must be removed (Requirement 1.a). Following this, the actuator fitting must be inspected for cracks at the bolt holes using fluorescent penetrant (Requirement 1.b). Additionally, the bolt holes in the skin must be visually inspected for elongation and cracking, with the skin replaced if the elongation in any hole exceeds 0.03 inches (Requirement 1.c). Cessna Service Bulletin SEB93-8 and Service Kit SK172-142 provide further reference material for compliance.
The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators and owners of the affected aircraft. Initially, the inspections mandated by Requirement 1 must be conducted before the aircraft accumulates 50 hours of time in service after 20 July 1995 or before 20 October 1995, whichever occurs first. Furthermore, these inspections must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 300 hours of time in service. Failure to comply with these inspection requirements could result in serious safety risks, as the cracking of the nose landing gear actuator fitting has the potential to cause the nose landing gear to collapse.
Failure to adhere to the requirements and obligations outlined in AD/CESSNA 170/58 can lead to various consequences under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance with ADs are not detailed in the legislative instrument itself, general provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 provide for potential civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties can include fines, while criminal penalties may include imprisonment. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and the discretion of the court. Operators and owners must ensure strict compliance to avoid these potential consequences.